2012 Silly Season

jpm · Post by **jpm** » 27 Nov 2011, 21:30

Autosport on it too.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96553

Gutted for JDA. I mean, surely it won't do them any harm to sign someone whos not a rookie - that way they dont have to go back to square 1 on their second car every year and focus on getting a new guy used to F1. They're essentially halving the amound of good feedback they can get. Sad - I hope JDA can be on the Renault shortlist. JDA and Grosjean for Team Lotus next year!

Pesky Petrov spoiling my plans :evil:

Pointrox · Post by **Pointrox** » 27 Nov 2011, 22:53

I'm afraid that Manor/Virgin/Marussia will once again waste another rookie's racing career.
Unless D'Ambrosio will prove us wrong and get signed in F1 for 2012 which is... unlikely.

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 27 Nov 2011, 22:54

Pointrox wrote:I'm afraid that Manor/Virgin/Marussia will once again waste another rookie's racing career.
Unless D'Ambrosio will find employment somewhere for 2012 which is... unlikely.

Does that mean I can remove the d'Ambrosio bit from my sig?

GwilymJJames wrote:Marussia confirm Glock/Pic for 2012

Congrats to Pic on becoming the first French F1 driver since 2008... and for becoming the driver with the shortest surname in F1

QuickYoda41 · Post by **QuickYoda41** » 27 Nov 2011, 22:57

I don't think D'Ambrosio will get a race seat, but I hope he'll get a Hulkenberg-like test year at one of the teams.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 27 Nov 2011, 23:27

Pointrox wrote:I'm afraid that Manor/Virgin/Marussia will once again waste another rookie's racing career.
Unless D'Ambrosio will prove us wrong and get signed in F1 for 2012 which is... unlikely.

Or Di Grassi proves us wrong and goes to HRT. I heard his name connected to them a few days ago but I can't remember who from and why...and lets be honest, if you have money then you have a shot at the HRT seat. Anyone with an FIA Superlicense and $15 Million to spend is basically guaranteed a seat there.

Which begs the question...

jpm · Post by **jpm** » 28 Nov 2011, 00:15

I've heard that di Grassi is probably going to join the Peugeot LMP1 sportscar programe, for whom he has tested repeatedly. I doubt he'll want a second bite at the cherry with another no hope team.

AdrianSutil · Post by **AdrianSutil** » 28 Nov 2011, 00:20

Feel sorry for D'Ambrosio. Apart from his Hungary madness, he's proven to be a more than capable driver. He's had the beating of Glock at several races so it's a shame to see Virgin go for a rookie again. Won't help their development, no matter how 'talented' Pic is.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 28 Nov 2011, 12:18

AdrianSutil wrote:Feel sorry for D'Ambrosio. Apart from his Hungary madness, he's proven to be a more than capable driver. He's had the beating of Glock at several races so it's a shame to see Virgin go for a rookie again. Won't help their development, no matter how 'talented' Pic is.

I still think D'Ambrosio matching and beating Glock at some races has more to do with Timo's lack of motivation. Being saddled with THAT can't do wonders for your state of mind.

jpm · Post by **jpm** » 28 Nov 2011, 12:18

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96560

Ricciardo being considered at Caterham

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 28 Nov 2011, 12:41

kostas22 wrote:Which begs the question...

They should do, just to open up an interesting experiment.

Fireking and Christophe Hurni driving Red Bulls, and Sebastian Vettel driving a Virgin or an HRT, setting qualifying laps. Who would come out on top?

Post by **mario** » 28 Nov 2011, 13:28

DanielPT wrote:
AdrianSutil wrote:Feel sorry for D'Ambrosio. Apart from his Hungary madness, he's proven to be a more than capable driver. He's had the beating of Glock at several races so it's a shame to see Virgin go for a rookie again. Won't help their development, no matter how 'talented' Pic is.

I still think D'Ambrosio matching and beating Glock at some races has more to do with Timo's lack of motivation. Being saddled with THAT can't do wonders for your state of mind.

That is probably true, given Glock's slightly cross words with the team over the radio earlier in the season - still, although D'Ambrosio did have a go in Hungary for the oddest accident of the season, at least he didn't crash during a warm up lap in the way that Di Grassi did last year...

jpm wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96560

Ricciardo being considered at Caterham

Whilst it's not entirely surprising that they might consider replacing Trulli (he's had a few decent races this season but Heikki has, by far and away, been the one taking the fight to the midfield whereas Trulli has languished some way behind), what is interesting is that it is Ricciardo who is being put forwards as a candidate. Presumably, Red Bull will be offering a discount on their KERS and gearbox package, or possibly newer specification parts, in return for giving Ricciardo a seat - which suggests that either Red Bull are hoping to find Ricciardo a seat on the cheap, or that HRT are thinking of signing an alternative pay driver to replace Ricciardo (assuming that De La Rosa might well be replacing Liuzzi as the "veteran driver" within the team).

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 28 Nov 2011, 13:29

jpm wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96560

Ricciardo being considered at Caterham

That is an interesting piece of news. So, they may decide to keep both of their current drivers and place Vergne on FP probation while at the same time maintain Ricciardo racing another year elsewhere. If Webber retires in 2012 that also makes Ricciardo a possibility for the that seat. If Ricciardo proves his worthy against Heikki it is a very possible that it is him to take the seat although unfair to either Buemi or Dj Squire. Also, it is possible that they found out that Vergne and Ricciardo are not much better than both of they current drivers? It is because once upon a time Toro Rosso ousted their drivers at the slight hint that someone better was waiting in the shadow...

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 28 Nov 2011, 20:08

Anyone who's on Twitter should apparently keep checking this evening, according to James Allen, there should be some news on Raikkonen soon!

If anyone is remotely interested in my occasional musings, you could also follow me!

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 28 Nov 2011, 20:25

AndreaModa wrote:Anyone who's on Twitter should apparently keep checking this evening, according to James Allen, there should be some news on Raikkonen soon!

If anyone is remotely interested in my occasional musings, you could also follow me!

Humm... Let's see if James Allen sources are any good...

Ed24 · Post by **Ed24** » 29 Nov 2011, 05:36

Peter Windsor made a similar tweet yesterday...
https://twitter.com/#!/PeterDWindsor/status/141144277433581569

I wonder if Kimi still has any money from Qatar with him, or if that was only attached to the potential Williams deal.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 29 Nov 2011, 07:26

At least we know who one of the contenders for Reject of the Year will be...

Post by **mario** » 29 Nov 2011, 07:33

Well, we've just got our answer on where Kimi is going, and it's come from a slightly surprising direction - Kimi has signed a two year deal with Renault, which is a big surprise given that Grosjean was widely tipped to be getting the seat currently held by Bruno. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96573

Collieafc · Post by **Collieafc** » 29 Nov 2011, 07:43

Well that was...unexpected

Jeroen Krautmeir · Post by **Jeroen Krautmeir** » 29 Nov 2011, 07:48

Collieafc wrote:Well that was...unexpected

Seconded.

Grosjean to Williams then, perhaps?

jpm · Post by **jpm** » 29 Nov 2011, 07:58

Wow, didn't see that coming! So Grosjan does a Pantano then and wins gp2 but doesnt get to F1·Sad times, Kimi for ROY in 2012

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 29 Nov 2011, 08:37

When the Williams rumours fell away, I hadn't expected Raikkonen to return at all - so six world champions on the grid next year, then? Is that a record?

And where does this leave Robert Kubica? The team clearly wanted a proven top line driver in place as insurance against the Pole not coming back... And it doesn't say much for the half-dozen or so other drivers the team also have on their books!

Ferrim · Post by **Ferrim** » 29 Nov 2011, 08:58

Kudos to James Allen, then. Some people were criticising him yesterday on Twitter for that message...

Post by **Londoner** » 29 Nov 2011, 09:09

Holy crap! I wasn't expecting that! Could this mean that Barrichello stays at Williams, now that Raikkonen hasn't been signed by them?

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 29 Nov 2011, 09:21

There's always Bottas to sign... But I cross my fingers for Rubinho

S951 · Post by **S951** » 29 Nov 2011, 10:43

fingers crossed for rubens and luca for hrt

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 29 Nov 2011, 10:48

Well done, James Allen. Your sources are indeed good. And you managed to beat Joe Saward to it (who yesterday dismissed the idea in a post) despite not going to all the races! Hat's off!

AdrianSutil · Post by **AdrianSutil** » 29 Nov 2011, 12:32

DanielPT wrote:Well done, James Allen. Your sources are indeed good. And you managed to beat Joe Saward to it (who yesterday dismissed the idea in a post) despite not going to all the races! Hat's off!

Yeah fair play to him. Didn't think much of it first, but this has surprised me!!

Pointrox · Post by **Pointrox** » 29 Nov 2011, 14:39

It's less than a week after the last Grand Prix and I can tell that next season will be worth watching

I'm still curious about Williams, Force India and HRT though.

QuickYoda41 · Post by **QuickYoda41** » 29 Nov 2011, 15:32

That's great news for the sport.

Still, if Lotus "progresses" like they did during the year...

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 29 Nov 2011, 18:35

I wonder if Williams will consider exchanging their volatile bolívares for some slightly more stable roubles...

Minardi Man · Post by **Minardi Man** » 29 Nov 2011, 20:40

You never know, williams could stick with the pasta man again! :lol:

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 29 Nov 2011, 21:15

Minardi Man wrote:You never know, williams could stick with the pasta man again!

Paolo Barilla's returning as well?!

Pointrox · Post by **Pointrox** » 29 Nov 2011, 21:42

Minardi Man wrote:You never know, williams could stick with the pasta man again!

That would interfere with his Paralympics preparations but... he's a real fighter, so he wouldn't mind taking up the challenge I guess

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 29 Nov 2011, 21:54

What in the heck just happened???

AdrianSutil · Post by **AdrianSutil** » 29 Nov 2011, 23:27

kostas22 wrote:I wonder if Williams will consider exchanging their volatile bolívares for some slightly more stable roubles...

Why am I thinking a Sutil-Karthikeyan line-up wouldn't be a bad thing? Sutil brings a level-headed approach and Karthikeyan brings money... And he's not the worst driver available to Williams.

cbbcisace · Post by **cbbcisace** » 29 Nov 2011, 23:47

Giedo van der Garde is going to announce something tomorrow!

GvanderGarde: Goodnight! Tomorrow interesting daY... I wish i can say more but i cant!...

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 29 Nov 2011, 23:54

cbbcisace wrote:Giedo van der Garde is going to announce something tomorrow!

GvanderGarde: Goodnight! Tomorrow interesting daY... I wish i can say more but i cant!...

Hmmmm. At least he'll do better than Christijan Albers, if I'm thinking what I'm thinking.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 30 Nov 2011, 11:01

golic_2004 wrote:
cbbcisace wrote:Giedo van der Garde is going to announce something tomorrow!

GvanderGarde: Goodnight! Tomorrow interesting daY... I wish i can say more but i cant!...

Hmmmm. At least he'll do better than Christijan Albers, if I'm thinking what I'm thinking.

I think that he will be another Christijan Albers, but with a bit more cash...

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 30 Nov 2011, 11:24

DanielPT wrote:
golic_2004 wrote:
cbbcisace wrote:Giedo van der Garde is going to announce something tomorrow!

GvanderGarde: Goodnight! Tomorrow interesting daY... I wish i can say more but i cant!...

Hmmmm. At least he'll do better than Christijan Albers, if I'm thinking what I'm thinking.

I think that he will be another Christijan Albers, but with a bit more cash...

Well, at least there are no fuel hoses for him to drive away with anymore.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 30 Nov 2011, 11:28

BlindCaveSalamander wrote:
DanielPT wrote:
golic_2004 wrote:
Hmmmm. At least he'll do better than Christijan Albers, if I'm thinking what I'm thinking.

I think that he will be another Christijan Albers, but with a bit more cash...

Well, at least there are no fuel hoses for him to drive away with.

F1 still has pneumatic wrenches, though. He might decide to go that way!