Possible seat changes for 2012?

**chunterer** · 13 Jul 2011, 08:28 (Ref:2925900)

Without wishing to upset everyone with a full blown silly season thread (although we are getting close to that time of year...) how many seats will theoretically be up for grabs at the end of the season?

My take is that there one spare seat each at:

Red Bull (Webber out)
Mercedes (Schuey out)
Torro Rosso (either or both out)
Renault (Heidfeld out)
Force India (could be both)
Lotus (Trulli, surely???)
Virgin (could be both)
HRT (could be both

I see Ferrari, Williams, Sauber, staying the same?

p-matt · 13 Jul 2011, 09:56 (Ref:2925931)

I don't see much change to be honest.

Red Bull: the same. Webber may leave, but he knows he doesn't have a better seat elsewhere.

McLaren: both drivers contracted

Ferrari: both drivers contracted. They may hold out for Kubica for 2013.

Mercedes: both drivers contracted, and the way Schumi is driving now, I can't see him walk away

Renault: all depends on Kubica. If he is fit, Kubica and Petrov, if not I would say Kobayashi. Heidfeld is probably off to DTM.

Sauber: Will probably stay the same, unless Kobayashi gets a call up elsewhere. If so, maybe Sutil or Glock?

Force India: Probably di Resta and Hulkenberg.

Toro Rosso: Ricciardo and one of their current drivers. I'd be leaning towards Alguersuari now.

Williams: probably the same

Lotus: Kovalainen for sure. Trulli almost certainly not. Sutil maybe? Or Glock?

Virgin: hard to say really. I think Wickens will replace d'Ambrosio. I don't think Glock will want to stay.

HRT: Liuzzi will probably stay on, probably with someone who is Spanish with some cash. Could be Alguersuari if he gets dumped from STR? Soucek maybe?

ECW Dan Selby · 13 Jul 2011, 10:39 (Ref:2925951)

I think that's some pretty solid predicting, there.

Selby

Marbot · 13 Jul 2011, 11:24 (Ref:2925965)

Quote:

Originally Posted by p-matt

I don't see much change to be honest.

Red Bull: the same. Webber may leave, but he knows he doesn't have a better seat elsewhere.

Agree. Not much change at all.

Webber also seems sure to stay at Red Bull.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93058

**GTRMagic** · 13 Jul 2011, 11:45 (Ref:2925973)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marbot

Agree. Not much change at all.

Webber also seems sure to stay at Red Bull.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93058

Here's hoping not. A gig at Team Lotus, downloading the facts about the RB7 would be awesome!

**bella** · 13 Jul 2011, 12:05 (Ref:2925981)

i really don't think the team lotus ethos would fit very well with webber and his big "i am" attitude... nice thought though

Marbot · 13 Jul 2011, 12:33 (Ref:2926004)

Perez to test for Ferrari in September. Interesting!

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/2...-in-september/

ECW Dan Selby · 13 Jul 2011, 12:53 (Ref:2926014)

That's very, very interesting...

Selby

**ScotsBrutesFan** · 13 Jul 2011, 13:19 (Ref:2926025)

It's also a bit predictable given that he's driving a Ferrari engine in his Sauber at the moment

ECW Dan Selby · 13 Jul 2011, 13:51 (Ref:2926046)

I more mean given Ferrari's situation with Massa..

Selby

stripedcat · 13 Jul 2011, 14:31 (Ref:2926071)

Red Bull - Webber out, well maybe. He wasn't happy with the situation at Silverstone. Being Vettel's slave might be getting to him.

Ferrari - Massa. He has improved, but still is not the racer that he used to be. Could be possible he gets dumped.

McLaren - Hamilton leaving? Well he isn't happy with not having the best car any more, but he can't move to another top team at the moment, so he'll stay put. I bet he will renegotiate a few things at McLaren though.

Mercedes - Schumi. He has improved a lot in recent races and has said he is signed on at Mercedes for next year. I still think though it could be quite possible that he leaves at the end of the year, if he doesn't keep up with the good performances.

Williams - stays the same. I hope they can find some of their old form with the Renault engines.

HRT - both drivers replaced. Possible. They are not competitive at the moment.

Renault - Heidfeld out. Depends if Kubica is in good condition for racing.

Force India - stays the same.

Torro Rosso - stays the same.

Lotus - Trulli possibly out.

Sauber - stays the same.

Force India - stays the same.

Virgin - stays the same.

**bella** · 13 Jul 2011, 15:15 (Ref:2926092)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

I more mean given Ferrari's situation with Massa..

Selby

you could say the same about bianchi, to be honest. i still think ferrari signed perez up as a backup plan in case bianchi wobbled and wasn't up to their ambitions. i think they'd prefer to go the red bull way and indoctrinate their driver with their ways of working rather than go for someone who hasn't really been under their wing as much.

Super Hans · 13 Jul 2011, 17:29 (Ref:2926139)

Red Bull - Vettel & Ricciardo
McLaren - Button & Hamilton
Ferrari - Alonso & Bianchi
Mercedes - Rosberg & Di Resta
Renault - Webber & Petrov
Williams - Barrichello & Maldonado
Sauber - Kobayashi & Perez
Force India - Hulkenberg & Sutil
STR - Buemi & Alguersuari
Lotus - Kovalainen & Massa
Virgin - Glock & D'Ambrosio
HRT - Liuzzi & Grosjean

Here's my predictions. I'm probably wrong (hopefully about Kubica's absence).

jab · 13 Jul 2011, 18:22 (Ref:2926159)

If Webber stays at Red Bull after all he has said this weekend, added to all that has gone on over the last 2 seasons, I would lose a lot of respect for him

Jamesy-18 · 13 Jul 2011, 18:45 (Ref:2926166)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Hans

Ferrari - Alonso & Bianchi

Don't think there's a cat in hell's chance of that happening given Bianchi's disastrous GP2 season so far.

Super Hans · 13 Jul 2011, 18:47 (Ref:2926168)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesy-18

Don't think there's a cat in hell's chance of that happening given Bianchi's disastrous GP2 season so far.

Oops. I've not been following GP2, so that's my mistake. If Bianchi is having a 'mare then I'd say Perez to Ferrari, with Massa going the other way. Perhaps.

kipper · 13 Jul 2011, 19:14 (Ref:2926187)

As with others I can't see any changes at McLaren or Williams. Whilst I can't say that I've been overly convinced by Massa this year, I can't see Ferrari dispensing of his services until Perez or Bianchi have more relevant F1 experience.

Given that Red Bull are funding Ricciardo's seat at HRT, I suspect that he will be in a race seat next year. As Webber has been confirmed at Red Bull, this would presumable be at Toro Rosso. As Alguesauri has been the more convicing '11 pilot, I suspect he will be Ricciardo's team mate. I can't see Buemi securing a drive elsewhere. I think Hulkenberg is a given at Force India and would be partnered by di Resta; assuming that Schumacher doesn't retire and a Mercedes seat becomes available. I reckon Sauber will retain Perez and Kobayashi. If Kobayashi does jump ship, I envisage that his seat will go to Jules Bianchi.

Heikki Kovaleinen will probably be retained at Team Lotus, although it is probably the end of Trulli's F1 career. Not sure who will replace him, although I suspect it will be a rookie. I really can't see Glock staying at Virgin (perhaps off to Renault). I suspect that whoever ends up at Virgin and HRT will be partly there for sponsorship reasons. Similar reasons will probably see Petrov retain his seat; Heidfeld will probably retire. Whether Kubica will come back is debatable.

**chunterer** · 13 Jul 2011, 19:52 (Ref:2926205)

Liked Super Hans' list

To be fair Bianchi undid all the bad things about his season with that monumental performance last Saturday. The real Bianchi 'stood up' so to speak.

Here's a mischievous one. I've seen some pics of a very fed up looking JPM lately, maybe he's had enough of NASCAR for the moment, after all he's been driving pretty well for very little reward. Realistically, he could leave and go back to it again later.

The rule changes in F1 since he left must have gotten his interest? Proper slicks, tailhappy, press on style cars, lots of chances of overtaking.

He will also have noticed Schuey struggling a bit though.....

Jamesy-18 · 13 Jul 2011, 20:19 (Ref:2926219)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Hans

Oops. I've not been following GP2, so that's my mistake. If Bianchi is having a 'mare then I'd say Perez to Ferrari, with Massa going the other way. Perhaps.

Bianchi's 2011 results to date:

Istanbul- 3rd, 7th
Barcelona- 7th, DNF
Monte Carlo- DNF, 19th
Valencia- DNF, 7th
Silverstone- 1st, 5th

Dead-Eye · 13 Jul 2011, 20:29 (Ref:2926223)

Has there been any announcement about Barrichello for 2012? I'm surprised nobody is seeing him on his way out.

Jamesy-18 · 13 Jul 2011, 21:29 (Ref:2926243)

Believe Barrichello's stated he wishes to stay with the team.

p-matt · 13 Jul 2011, 21:34 (Ref:2926246)

Williams have pretty much confirmed their two drivers will remain as Rubens and Maldonado

deeks6 · 13 Jul 2011, 21:35 (Ref:2926247)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

Here's a mischievous one. I've seen some pics of a very fed up looking JPM lately, maybe he's had enough of NASCAR for the moment, after all he's been driving pretty well for very little reward. Realistically, he could leave and go back to it again later.

The rule changes in F1 since he left must have gotten his interest? Proper slicks, tailhappy, press on style cars, lots of chances of overtaking.

He will also have noticed Schuey struggling a bit though.....

Apparently JV and KR are also interested ... I believe Jean Alesi also wants to have a crack and there is talk that Emerson Fittipaldi is available. Is Jackie Stewart too old?

strider · 13 Jul 2011, 21:50 (Ref:2926255)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesy-18

Don't think there's a cat in hell's chance of that happening given Bianchi's disastrous GP2 season so far.

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvzD6...ature=youtu.be

givemethatcar · 13 Jul 2011, 21:50 (Ref:2926256)

Red Bull - Vettel & Ricciardo probably if Ricciardo succeed with Hispania and Webber protested a team order once again... What about Kimi Raikkonen and Red Bull? Or is it just media game this talk???

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