Rosberg to join…?
July 17, 2009 by Negative Camber
Filed under Top Story
Let’s unpack the possibilities for Nico Rosberg in 2010. Rosberg says he is happy at Williams but is exploring all options. This is more than likely the case as he has been linked to talks with BMW while Brawn GP and McLaren have expressed interest as well.
We’ve tossed McLaren, BMW, Renault and Williams as potential but Brawn GP has an interesting allure to it. The Brawn GP option is only good if they can keep their development program in full swing and lately that seems to be in question.
BMW would be a nice fit for the German driver and possibly the best opportunity for a number one status although Renault would likely offer this if Fernando Alonso does indeed go to Ferrari in 2010—a rumor since denied. It was also reported that Christian Klien is heading to BMW due to contract obligations.
McLaren has appeal as an option for a good team and car as I don’t feel McLaren will miss the plot next year in their car development. The gamble is the same as Heikki Kovalainen finds himself—number two to Lewis Hamilton.
Staying at Williams certainly retains his number one status at the team but it does bring in to question whether he will see victory at Williams F1 given the teams lack of performance over the last decade. Rosberg was very loyal but there is a time when loyalty can take a toll on a drivers career.
If Alonso leaves Renault—I say this is the best move for Rosberg. BMW would be my second option as I also feel they will gather their thoughts and get back on the scent of the trail in 2010. Williams would be third on my list as McLaren would be fourth and Brawn GP fifth. What are your thoughts on Rosberg’s best move? How do you rank the options and what options would you add to this list?
Loading ...
Been a Renault fan I think that if we lose Fernando then to be honest I would welcome Nico anytimw. Last time we were without Alonso we had fisichella as our no 1 which didn’t work as I don’t really see him as a leader
How can you NC consider Brawn a 5th option and Williams in third? I’d say anything is better than Williams. In a decade they’ve only gone from bad to worst and that must be for a good reason. Unless something radical is changed in the team’s insides, I’d leave to any of the options. But in what order? Let’s consider all options are open for him. How much could they pay him? What car will they be able to offer him?
Brawn will most likely be developing their 2010 car soon. They don’t have the need to push their 2009 car anymroe. They gained a great advantage during the first 6 races, and although you can say that some time soon they will perform under par, as they don’t develop as fast as the rest of the grid, the thing is they will remain on the top, as for the next half of the season, Ferrari, Red Bull and now apparently McLaren will share the top points, leaving Brawn comfortably in the top. 90% odds they’ll win both championships. If they do win these championships, the money from sponsors and the development team, will be there to make Brawn competitive next year too.
Also, Barrichello will leave Brawn next year most likely (his contract ends this year), although he is a great guy for developing cars, he is uncomfortable being #2 (what a torment after the Schumacher era!). Also Button will hardly leave the team. So if Rosberg joined, he’d be that challenging #2 that Hamilton was once to Alonso, my guess. I’d take Brawn hands down over Williams.
But what team should he take over Brawn? McLaren or BMW are interesting options as, Rosberg being German, he could expolot a link with a German manufacturer, such as MB or BMW of course. More money will be there for him waiting, as German F1 fans leftover from the MS era are eager to find a new hero, and Vettel is fastly gaining popularity, but RB is a Brit team! Clearly BMW didn’have the best of luck this year concentrating so much on a faulty KERS and losing on valuable aero development, so my guess is next year the team will kick some ass. He has equal possibility of playing #2 to Kubica or Heidfeld, anyhow, that team clearly does not play team orders or have priorities over drivers, so there’s no true #1 and #2 there. They have the resources and the drive to make a great car for 2010. So if any option is better for Rosberg than Brawn, would be BMW. McLaren would suck, as with LH there taking the baby #1 place, I think he’d fell uncomfortable playing #2 to his old GP2 rival.
Renault? They are in urge of a great driver, but they have tradition of promoting their test drivers to drivers. With the new test regulations we can’t be sure, but my guess is that Luca di Grassi guy is substituting that Piquet folk for 2010, and Alonso stays (I’m tired of that Ferrari Alonso rumor since 2006). If Alonso did go red, which is a slim but true possibility, I wouldn’t consider Renault a great option. They need his expertise, and I wouldn’t risk to have to take the time to adapt with the team with no experienced drivers. If he stayed, it would be awesome to play #2 to a 2 time world champion and learn something from him, and think of a long-term plan maybe.
In conclusion, my rank would be (all things equal)
1.- BMW
2.- Brawn
3.- Renault
4.- McLaren
5.- Williams
Could it be Ferrari? It can be if Alonso doesn’t and Kimi does get kicked out. If that was the case and he had the option, who wouldn’t go red???
I dont think its Ferrari at all. If they dont get Alosno, they certainly aren’t going to rid themselves of Kimi to get Rosberg.
Sorry mate, but Nico won the gp2 championship against kovalainen and Lewis arrived in gp2 the year after..
I think Mclaren would be the best option.
Renault without Fernando in my opinion will decline, and lose investments..
Bmw isn’t definetly a good team, every year they promise but they don’t have a good projecting team, they need a big name(willis?)
Brawn will win this year, but i won’t bet about their future..They seems not finding big sponsor although they’re winning.
I think next year Ferrari and Macca will recover their position in the rank and their cars will compete always for the victory, eventually with RB.
So these three teams are the place to be.
Macca in the past, till the Fernando-Lewis mess has had 2 top drivers, even fighting for the championship: remember Lauda-Prost, Prost-Senna.. The last time was a problem and they lost the championship, but if Nico could obtain pair condition with Lewis this would be the best option, and we will see an interesting fight: I think Nico can improve but he’s as much talented as Lewis, and really a nice person
I would be happy with Nico at Renault. It would help ease the pain of Fred at Ferrari.
In my mind BMW is a no brainer. German driver, German team. He’ll get a fair shot with equal equipment.
Brawn is a gamble. The big hitters are going to be swinging for the fences in 2010 and Brawn has lost the advantage of the sneak attack.
Renault is…well, Renault. I never did understand their participation in F1, but I respect them as a team. A move there would need to be predicated on Al leaving otherwise he’s going to be number 2. They just wouldn’t be my choice.
Macca is going to be the same as Renault w/Al. They will favor LewHam, Nico won’t have a chance to realize his full potential there. Even if he turns out to be 5% better then Lewis he’ll have 10% less car.
I feel like Williams has lost their identity. I’ve found myself feeling sorry for them more often then rooting for them and that is not a good sign. Frank is too nice a guy to root against and Adam Parr is too much of a douche to root for. (my opinion of course)
…so that’s it…BMW.
I really hate to see this guy struggling at Williams, he’s a driver who I really feel deserves a shot in a top car.
I’d love to see him replace Kovalainen at MacLaren: two well-matched, doggedly-determined young guys with a healthy respect for one another and what I think would become a legendary driver era for that team, both in terms of results and on-track rivalry (not to mention a marketing dream). Would Hamilton stand for this? I think he might. Heikki is a nice guy and all, but MacLaren could do a lot better…
BMW? I don’t see them dropping their two drivers for anyone (or Kubica/Heidfeld leaving). And why should they? It’s the car that sucks…
Brawn? Rosberg would be jumping from a ropey situation into a dodgy one. BGP would be nowhere his year if it wasn’t for Honda money last year; and without the squillions this year who knows where they’ll be next year, performance-wise?
Renault? Seem to be in a similar situation to Williams at the moment…
Williams? Seem to be in a similar situation to Renault at the moment…
So where should he go next year? MacLaren. Where will he actually end up? WIlliams.
1 MacLaren
2 Williams
3 BMW
4 Brawn
5 Renault
Very good justifications folks. I wonder if the Vettel issue would play a part here. Haug has admitted that macca is interested in Vettel as well as Ferrari. Plays a part in Fred to Ferrari and Nico to Macca. At least I would be thinking about that if I were Nico.
Obviously the answer is FiFi
Until I see fred in the fancy red jumper I am not buying the move to Ferrari. If Alonso leaves they might as well pack up shop and quit because Nico can’t do wiht a car what Alonso can and that car is a pig.
BMW seems to be the wisest move all around. This is a team that needs a fresh start and a young German driver would help and I would replace Kubica because frankly he has done nothing more than complain this season and hasn’t stepped it up. i’m not questino ing his skill I just think Bobby K is on the wrong team.
If he wants to spend his career as a number 2 he should DEFINITLEY sign with Macca.
Brawn … there are no garuntees they will repeat the success they have had tihs year. In truth over the last couple of races there has been the first signs of a decline in performance. Big Risk to end up on Williams the sequel.
If Kimi is out at the end of the year I don’t see why you wouldn’t go after Nico if vettel is unavailable . Team him up with Massa and you have 2 drivers who are driven to perform and win and he could get some great pointers from that other german driver what’s his name….Ralfs brother
1. Ferrari
2.BMW
3.Macca
4. Brawn
5. FiFi
6 Renault
Wow, he would be a ringer for a spot at McLaren – I think Ros has an amazing talent for PR. Well spoken, fast, and a bit of a hair model. Think he could pull in some shampoo sponsors? Sounds familiar …