Your View: Which 2009 drivers won’t make 2010 grid?
November 25, 2009 by SJ Skid
Filed under Parc Fermé, Prime & Option
OK, don’t say Nelson Piquet. We know that. [Or do we?]
Don’t guess Kimi Raikkonen. That’s — mostly — a forgone conclusion.
But which other drivers, at this point, do you think we’ve seen the last of?
Will Heikki Kovalainen find a new home in 2010? What about Kaz Nakajima? Romain Grosjean?
Is Jarno Trulli really a lock for Lotus?
I’d suggest that conventional wisdom would have it that, with the grid expanding by three or four teams, all of the 2009 drivers ought to be able to find a drive.
Yes, the departure of BMW and Toyota (and maybe Renault) even out the numbers a bit, but still, a betting line would have to go with the drivers who have experience. Wouldn’t it?
We all know the conventional wisdom is often wrong.
What does the F1B collective wisdom say? Which drivers from 2009 do you think will fail to secure a seat, and if you’re feeling loquacious, why?
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I am very surpised Force India has not given Heiki Kovailinen a drive for next year.. Is Luizi or Sutil really better than Keiki. Answer Simpe “NO”. Heiki is bound to bring them a handful of points next season.
I beg to differ.
Sutil’s star is on the rise because he has a solid finishing rate, whereas HK has had the best equipment available to him and failed to make an impression on anybody. If someone is going to lose out due to his recent performance, it will be Kovalainen.
Also, Trulli’s lack of race pace is a known fact and I expect we have seen the last of him.
R Grojean might get a seat with Renault, but it’s a long shot. With the startling performance from S Buemi, many teams might be willing to take a chance on a rookie in the hopes of discovering a gem with real potential to propel the entire team; witness the signing of Senna at Campos earlier this year.
For now, R Barrichello is safe, but one would think the drivers getting long-of-tooth should soon be on their way out.
The most compelling story for me is how Mercedes GP will line up next season. While N Heidfeld has the distinction of having the best finishing rate among active drivers, I imagine MBGP wants to offer him a short contract (1 year only) so they could move to sign S Vettel for 2011.
Heidfeld is unlikely to agree to a short contract so, I imagine, this is what is holding up the announcement of N Rosberg’s teammate there.
Kimi, Jnr jnr, Kazu and Big John really are the only ones who won’t make it.
I believe, Kaki (new team?) and Fisi (Force India/Lotus?) will find a home for 2010.
I think 50% of the empty seat will be filled with rookies alongside more experience drivers; in that way team will save a lot of money -in fact will bring money to the team-, and will allow the teams to develop the cars.
Who’s out of the paddock? I would say Romain, Heikki, Heidfeld -sorry about that-, Kazu, Luizzi, and maybe Jarno…just a guess
Nakajima has lost toyota support, so his career could be finished.
Grosjean is french, maybe Renault could keep him but it would be only because there isn’t another french guys.. i don’t think he’ll be on the grid. I think Heikki will come back in renault if the french team survive..
Liuzzi hasn’t money to offer, so it’s quite hard for him.
some of the 2009 drivers could drive for the new teams as Glock..
Force India have confirmed the same 2 drivers for next season which is a surprise however Sutil is always entertaining! Jury is still out on Liuzzi and they have the young test coming up soon. May put pressure on him later in the season.
There is going to be a scramble for places once everything begins to fall into place. Kovi and Trulli may be the biggest losers and I cannot see Grosjean making it back, Piquet is a more realistic performer than him. Best some guys may end up with is a testing slot.
Some teams will be only offering pay-to-drive deals as well, so sponsorship clout is going to be a major factor.
I agree. We need some people like Sutil to make the races more entertaining.
So far the biggest casualty seems to be Kimi.
I’m really happy for Tonio Liuzzi, i really thougt Mallya would change.. Force India is confirming an intelligent management, they arn’t looking for paying drivers and I think Liuzzi is quite experienced in f1 and in the team to give some good results..