Formula One 2010 driver line up

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hpichris

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Update as needed.

Ferrari : Fernando Alonso & Felippe Massa
McLaren : Lewis Hamilton & ???
Brawn : Jensen Button & ???
Red Bull : Sebastian Vettel & Mark Webber
Toyota : ??? & ??? (May not be around)
Sauber Qadbak Ferrari: Nick Heidfield (If the team sticks around)
Williams Cosworth : Rubens Barichello & Nico Hulkenberg
Renault: Robert Kubica & ???
Force India: Adrian Sutil & ???
Toro Rosso: ??? & ???
Campos: Bruno Senna & ???
Lotus: ??? & ???
Manor: ??? & ???
USF1: ??? & ???
 
Breaking news:

Toyota Motor Corp confirmed reports that it was pulling out of Formula One racing.
Toyota, the world's largest carmaker, was the last Japanese team left in the sport following Honda's withdrawal last December to cut costs amid a severe market downturn.

Toyota's withdrawal comes as the car industry starts to stabilise following a sales crunch in the wake of the financial crisis.

Toyota's pullout is another major blow for Formula One after Japan's number two carmaker Honda quit the series last December to cut costs.

It also continues the drain of Japanese companies from motor sport, which has seen Subaru and Suzuki withdraw from the world rallying championship and bike maker Kawasaki scrap its MotoGP team in the grip of a severe market downturn.

Japanese tyre maker Bridgestone announced on Monday they would not renew their supply contract with Formula One after the 2010 season.

In July, Toyota's Fuji International Speedway circuit gave up the hosting rights for the Japanese Grand Prix in 2010 and beyond to reduce costs amid the global economic downturn.

The pull-out of Japanese companies from F1 began with Honda-backed Super Aguri, who left for financial reasons early last year.

Toyota were the only remaining Japanese team in F1, but have no drivers signed for next season and were dropped as Williams' engine partner for 2010.

Toyota failed to win a race since entering Formula One in 2002 despite an estimated annual budget of around £200 million.

Their departure from the sport leaves just three manufacturers - Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault. It would also open the door for BMW-Sauber's new Swiss owners to take their place as the 13th team on the grid.

Toyota signed the concorde agreement earlier this year committing themselves to F1 until at least 2012, so the pullout could also have legal ramifications.
Reuters / Eurosport
 
I did not know this. When did Subaru pull out of the World Rallying racing?


It also continues the drain of Japanese companies from motor sport, which has seen Subaru and Suzuki withdraw from the world rallying championship and bike maker Kawasaki scrap its MotoGP team in the grip of a severe market downturn.
 
Originally Posted By: Johnny
I did not know this. When did Subaru pull out of the World Rallying racing?


It also continues the drain of Japanese companies from motor sport, which has seen Subaru and Suzuki withdraw from the world rallying championship and bike maker Kawasaki scrap its MotoGP team in the grip of a severe market downturn.


Last year. I think I actually cried when I heard the news. Subaru is rally, for them to quit was just unbelievable. Right around that time, Audi announced quitting Le Mans too and only racing the big races for the year.
 
Boy, it's going to be a dry spell for most forms of racing. JMHO, but I'd rather see an F1 field of private teams with 2 year old cars than a series which resembles a spec class (IRL, etc.)
As for filling the seats, I propose that on any team there is a pro-licensed F1 driver in the #1 car and the second car on any team is driven by new-rich Russian, Indian, Chinese, etc. billionaires who've bid their way into the car. This is not unlike the Russians selling seats on their space launches. Team scores would be averaged for each race (not unlike a pro/am "best ball" golf tournament.) LOL.
Seriously, I'm sad to see Toyota go - It was really gutsy for them (and Honda, Peugeot, Ford, etc.) to proudly display their logo on cars that were marginally competitive at best. Hats off to all of them for showing up at the big dance. IMO it's much better to be at the back of a F1 pack than up front at a nascar race.
 
More breaking news:

Renault board considering following Toyota out of F1

Things have never been this bad for the Renault F1 team. Their performance is light-years behind where it used to be, their star driver is bolting once again, their top management has been thrown out of the sport in disgrace, and its biggest sponsors are leaving en masse. And now, following months if not years of speculation, the French automaker could be preparing to cut its losses and shut down its racing team altogether.

Reports indicate that Renault's board of directors is currently weighing its options, with possibilities including maintaining its full participation in the series, reverting to acting as an engine supplier for other teams (like Red Bull), or following Toyota and BMW out of the sport before next season. However reports that the FIA is considering taking legal action against Toyota for breach of contract which locked the company into the series through 2012 could make the decision a little more difficult.

The anticipation must be especially gut-wrenching for Robert Kubica, who just signed with Renault for next season after BMW Sauber exited the series. One way or another, the company is expected to announce its decision in the coming days.
 
Last edited:
FIA examines legality of Toyota departure

The FIA said in a statement that Toyota's decision on Wednesday to quit caused concern, as did the announcement by tyre supplier Bridgestone that they would leave at the end of 2010.

"Bridgestone has given almost 18 months' notice of its intentions, thereby allowing the necessary arrangements to be made for the future supply of tyres to the championship," the FIA said.

"Toyota's decision, however, comes just weeks after its F1 team signed the new Concorde Agreement until 2012.

"Urgent clarification is now being sought from the Toyota F1 team as to its legal position in relation to the championship. This will have a direct bearing on the admission of any future 13th entry."

Toyota did not say in a statement issued in Tokyo what they would do with their Cologne-based team, although a source there told Reuters that the plan was simply to close it down.

The former BMW-Sauber team have been named as reserves to take up any slot vacated by one of the 13 teams due to compete in 2010.

However their entry cannot be officially given the green light until Toyota confirm what is happening to their team. By signing the confidential Concorde Agreement in August, Toyota had committed themselves to Formula One until at least 2012.

The FIA said it had repeatedly warned that "motorsport cannot outpace the world economic crisis" and had acted accordingly to cut costs and allow new, independent teams in.

"The FIA accepted the cost-reduction measures put forward by the teams on the basis that they would ensure a long-term commitment to the championship," it added.

"Toyota's announcement demonstrates the importance of the original cost-reduction measures set out by the FIA.

"The FIA will now work to ensure that Toyota's departure is managed in the best interests of the championship and will continue to encourage the F1 teams to undertake the necessary cost-cutting measures for the good of the sport."
Reuters
 
Brawn: Rival teams tried to unsettle Button
Brawn GP team principal Ross Brawn has revealed that some of Jenson Button's F1 rivals endeavoured to unsettle the British star during his march to the drivers' title - and used his ongoing contract malaise as ammunition by which to attempt to knock him off his stride.

Though Button and Brawn claimed drivers' and constructors title in Brazil last month, for much of the summer the 29-year-old appeared to be making hard work of things, with just two podium finishes between June and the end of the season.

And Button's team boss Ross Brawn has acknowledged that other teams approached Button during his barren run with offers for 2010 in what he believes was a tactic to try to sway his focus from the job in-hand.

"He has some offers," Brawn said.

"Our business is incredibly competitive. There were people, when they became aware of Jenson's contractual situation, who tried to unsettle him during the championship. He knew some of those tactics were for that reason.

"Jenson wants a very competitive car and he wants a reasonable salary. If we offer those two things, we'll find a reasonable solution.

"I'm pretty optimistic. It's not a situation we would have planned, to be at this stage without the world champion tied up, but all the talks have been positive so far."

The negotiations are still deadlocked over Button's demand for his full Honda salary - two-thirds of which he sacrificed in order to help the team to stay afloat - reinstated, but Brawn are understood to be unwilling to do so.

A move to McLaren-Mercedes alongside compatriot and title-winning predecessor Lewis Hamilton in 2010 has also been mooted, but the general perception is that the Frome-born ace will likely stay put and drive alongside former Williams driver Nico Rosberg.

"Once we've got Jenson sorted. We'll be announcing our whole package," Brawn confirmed, "and we want to make an impact when we do that."
 
Italian wind tunnel operator Aerolab has said they are taking legal action against the Force India Formula One team for "serious and persistent" breaches of contract.

The company issued a statement after media reports suggested Force India were concerned that Lotus, who are now working closely with Aerolab's parent company Fondtech, had copied details of their 2009 car.

Lotus F1 technical head Mike Gascoyne was previously employed by Silverstone-based Force India.

Aerolab managing director Jean-Claude Migeot said in a statement that the Lotus rumours were "designed only to tarnish the company's reputation and professionalism and to divert attention away from the facts.

"The truth is that Aerolab is suing Force India for not fulfilling its obligations."

Force India were not immediately available for comment.

Aerolab said their three-year collaboration with Silverstone-based Force India had come to "an abrupt and unhappy end" in September this year after "serious and persistent breaches of contract by Force India."

Gascoyne, whose Malaysian-backed team were awarded what would have been the 13th slot on the 2010 starting grid only in September, played down suggestions that his team's car was based on the Force India.

"Obviously our wind-tunnel model was designed for us by Fondtech in Italy," he told the autosport.com website.

"It is based around a 2010 chassis, because there is a big fuel volume in it, it has a Cosworth engine, an Xtrac gearbox, our suspension, and other stuff designed by us. The Fondmetal guys put some generic bodywork on.

"Whereas you cannot copy anything or take anyone else's IP (intellectual property), you can use your expertise - and you will base that on what you know and what directions you know have been happening. That is what has happened."
Reuters
 
Wow, it's going to be a crazy year next year. Good to see Lotus and Cosworth back into it. I'm glad Red Bull is sticking around. So is Bridgestone doing tires for next year then?
 
Originally Posted By: Whitewolf
McLaren I think Kimi.


He may lose money if he drives for them. Reportedly, Ferrari is paying him 17 million euro if he doesn't drive & 10 million euro if he does. McLaren, reportedly, is therefore only offering him 5 million euro.
 
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