The 2012 Driver transfer discussion/speculation thread

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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95840

Virgin have formally applied for a name change. I guess that, unlike Renault and Fernandes, they don’t really stand to lose anything since they’re 12th and last in the WCC standings.

Funnily enough, it’s the one team change Joe Saward hasn’t reported on – and the only one that has come true. He has, however, reported that Charles Pic is "close" to signing with them for 2012. I'm interpreting this as meaning that Pic is talking to every other team on the grid.
 
Renault have already been through this with Raiko last year, and after all was said and done, Boullier would now make a fool of himself if he signed Raiko for next season, so that shouldn't be happening, Petrov would just outperform him anyway.
 
Petrov has the knowledge Raikkonen doesn't - Pirelli, DRS and fuel-heavy cars. I doubt he would obliterate Raikkonen, but I also doubt Raikkonen obliterating him.
 
I doubt Raikkonen will outperform anyone at first. Once he's up to speed he will easily match Petrov, but he'll still get ousted from the seat because he's not as good as Kubica. I think the most likely option is for him to go to Williams. Due to the fact the team has become a financially orientated business, I feel they will get rid of Barrichello for two pay drivers (Which is essentially what Raikkonen will be as it will be for the extra sponsorship that comes with his name).

When I say financially orientated, I mean they're trying to organise themselves. Organisation and securing finances first, performance later. Most big teams don't need to worry about the former because they have it well under control and have consistent income because the sponsors keep rolling in.
 
I doubt Williams will gain money from Raikkonen....more like lose money. The only sponsors Raikkonen can bring are from results and thats something that Barrichello was delivering on a presumably much lower salary than Raikkonen. To call Raikkonen a "pay driver" is pretty laughable.
 
Ardius, the current theory is that Williams have been courting the Qataris, who are said to be interested if someone like Raikkonen is in the team. So technically, Raikkonen won't have bought sponsors with him - but there will be sponsors in the team because of him. He doesn't have to do anything but sign up.
 
That makes sense, though that still isn't a definition of "pay driver". They would want Raikkonen presumably for his ability and hence his reputation. Sounds like those sponsors would be there with any other driver of similar ability and reputation, which means Raikkonen isn't directly bringing money because of his name or whatever. The money sounds like it would still come if Alonso, Hamilton...anyone signed that was highly reputable.
 
Given the team's current state, I don't think anyone but Raikkonen would want to race for them - the only reason Raikkonen would be willing is because it's a way back into the sport (and contrary to the beliefs of fanboys, Raikkonen cannot simply step into a Red Bull after two years out).
 
I think that Raikkonen is still a name that means something when it comes to bringing money to the team, not only by his past accomplishments (after all he was a world champion only 4 years ago) but also by his "rebellious/adventurous persona" that can bring some sponsorship deals (alcohol beverages maybe? ;) ) alongside his driving skill.

With full winter testing program under his belt, I think he can be competitive from the get-go. Besides it was not really his deteriorating racecraft that made him go away from F1, was it?
 
No, it was the fact that he lost interest. And that remains a danger. We all saw how Schumacher struggled after three years, and he had the benefit of full fuel load experience. Plus at the time, the refuelling ban was new to everyone.

Should Kimi come back, I have no doubt that he'll inadvertently attract a lot of sponsorship, but I have to agree that he is no pay driver in the usual sense. He will face a mountainous challenge. It will be interesting to see how he copes.
 
The Brazilian media are suggesting that Raikkonen has signed with Williams and that the annoucement will be made at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Which makes sense, given that Williams has been courting QNB (Qatar National Bank) as a sponsor and the proximity of Abu Dhabi to Qatar, but it does contradict Claire Williams' statement that the team is waiting until the end of the year to make a decision.
 
Some of you seem to discount just how naturally talented Raikkonen is, and what he's capable of when he's hungry. I don't know of any other driver who showed the type of speed Kimi did (when he first entered f1) with only 23 non go kart races under his belt by the time he made his f1 debut. Just think about that for a moment.
 
And you're discounting the fact that however talented Raikkonen is, he's still been out of the sport for two years, which has changed a lot - so he's got a lot of catching up to do, and that's without taking into account the way he has been rallying for two years (which is about as much of a departure from open-wheel racing as you can get). He has no experience with fuel-heavy cars. He has never used DRS or an F-duct. He has no information on how the Pirelli tyres behave. While he can no doubt overcome these obstacles, he's not going to do it straight away. Martin Brundle reported that Michael Schumacher admitted that he still had trouble understanding the Pirellis, even after sixteen races, and Schumacher is arguably more talented than Raikkonen.

A lot of people - particularly Raikkonen's fans, who can be rather militant - seem to think that Raikkonen will simply step into the car and be competitive. He won't. It will take him time to get to that point.
 
Yes, I agree. Just like micheal. Technology changes massively in just one season. It isn't like 1993 when Alain Prost got kicked off Ferrari in 1991. He sat out the WHOLE season, and in 1993 it was his first season back, he won the World Drivers Championship for Williams.
 
The 1993 Williams car was something special though, Williams at that time was considered the only competitive car, which is why they banned the driving aids for 1994. I guess you could compare it to the current Red Bull. Then you have to consider that Mansell didnt want to drive on the same team as Prost (so Mansell retired for that year) and Prost would only drive for Williams if they agreed not to sign up Ayrton Senna (who was driving for Mclaren, even though he wanted a Williams drive).
 
The fact of the matter is, none of us can predict how quickly Kimi will get up to speed. But to talk as if it Is some fact that it will take him quite some time to get up to speed (to even match a driver like Petrov) is purely an assumption based on what you want to believe.

And Michael is no point for comparison to begin with. He's had just as much time on the Pirrelli tires as anyone else...not to mention he decided to come back to the sport at 41 after a 3 year lay off from competing in professional motorsports. Lastly, Kimi is arguably much more naturally talented than Michael (who is the extremely hard worker), further nullifying any point in comparing the two and how Kimi will fair in his return.

Sorry for the rather short response...I'm using my phone atm.
 
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The Outlaw
The fact of the matter is, none of us can predict how quickly Kimi will get up to speed. But to talk as if it Is some fact that it will take him quite some time to get up to speed (to even match a driver like Petrov) is purely an assumption based on what you want to believe.

And Michael is no point for comparison to begin with. He's had just as much time on the Pirrelli tires as anyone else...not to mention he decided to come back to the sport at 41 after a 3 year lay off from competing in professional motorsports. Lastly, Kimi is arguably much more naturally talented than Michael (who is the extremely hard worker), further nullifying any point in comparing the two and how Kimi will fair in his return.

Sorry for the rather short response...I'm using my phone atm.
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I have to agree with you in a certain sense, this forum has that sort of problem (a lot of forums do) that people think they know the answers and when you put them on the spot (like this), they'll claim otherwise. However, their post come off like they know corner for corner how Kimi or any returning driver will behave. Everyone is different and people will progress at different rates there is no basic formula that you can calculate. So I agree with you people shouldn't be computer jockeys about this stuff and should really just stick to "oh I'm glad they made that driver change" or "oh it's too bad this driver change had to happen". To be honest if any of us could predict how fast Kimi will get up to speed, then I don't know why you're spending time typing here and not doing race analysts for a big time team.

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Anyways I don't think Kimi should have a shot their are many young drivers that deserve the chance that Kimi gave up a couple years ago. I think it'd be nice for the next generation of drivers to keep filling in where the old drivers are leaving.
 
prisonermonkeys
The Brazilian media are suggesting that Raikkonen has signed with Williams and that the annoucement will be made at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Which makes sense, given that Williams has been courting QNB (Qatar National Bank) as a sponsor and the proximity of Abu Dhabi to Qatar, but it does contradict Claire Williams' statement that the team is waiting until the end of the year to make a decision.
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I believe your right. The williams team ( i believe the owners ) actually went to Qatar during the time news resurfaced on Raikkonen.
 
I don't think that has anything to do with Raikkonen - Williams have got a technology centre in Qatar, and they're upgrading it and leasing it out to Mowasalat, a transport company owned by the Qatari Royal House of Thani. Every taxi, bus and limousine driver in Qatari is employed by Mowasalat, the idea being that if the Royal Family control the transport system, they can guarantee a higher standard of service. The simulator built by Williams will be adapted to train Mowasalat drivers in keeping with this philosophy.
 
I can see Barrichello going to Hispania, he looks almost certain to lose his Williams seat but he is not prepared to leave F1 yet, also he is prepared to find sponsorship money.

Here are my predictions for 2012:
Red Bull - Sebastian Vettel - Mark Webber
McLaren - Jenson Button - Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari - Fernando Alonso - Felipe Massa
Mercedes - Nico Rosberg - Michael Schumacher
Lotus - Vitaly Petrov - Robert Kubica
Force India - Paul di Resta - Nico Hulkenberg
Sauber - Kamui Kobayashi - Sergio Perez
Team UAE - Jaime Alguersuari - Daniel Ricciardo
Williams - Adrian Sutil - Pastor Maldonado
Caterham - Heikki Kovalainen - Jarno Trulli
Marussia - Timo Glock - Robert Wickens
HRT - Rubens Barrichello - Who knows? maybe Davide Valsecchi
 
Supposedly Williams are interested in Sutil for next season. :D
 
Chariots0fFire
Supposedly Williams are interested in Sutil for next season. :D
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I think thats why Mallya has bought forward Force India's driver announcement, Adrian knows Force India is the best seat left but needs to know if he'll get it, if not its Williams for him.
 
Are Lotus/Caterham/OtherNewName really going to stick with Trulli? Such a waste of a seat imo.
 
Old news, I'm afraid, Chariots. If Barrichello goes, then he'll probably be replaced by either Raikkonen or Sutil.
 
Sureboss
Are Lotus/Caterham/OtherNewName really going to stick with Trulli? Such a waste of a seat imo.
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He has experience, just give him a car he likes and he can be almost at Heikki's level which is pretty high.
 
No, I think Trulli has had it. He originally joined the team to guide them through their set-up phase. Now that the team is regularly threatening the midfield in the race, he's overstayed his usefulness. Get someone younger and faster in there who can actually challenge Kovalainen - because despite (supposedly) being Formula 1's resident one-lap specialist, Trulli has been out-qualified 14-2 this year by Kovalainen.
 
GOTMAXPOWER
I can see Barrichello going to Hispania, he looks almost certain to lose his Williams seat but he is not prepared to leave F1 yet, also he is prepared to find sponsorship money.

Here are my predictions for 2012:
Red Bull - Sebastian Vettel - Mark Webber
McLaren - Jenson Button - Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari - Fernando Alonso - Felipe Massa
Mercedes - Nico Rosberg - Michael Schumacher
Lotus - Vitaly Petrov - Robert Kubica
Force India - Paul di Resta - Nico Hulkenberg
Sauber - Kamui Kobayashi - Sergio Perez
Team UAE - Jaime Alguersuari - Daniel Ricciardo
Williams - Adrian Sutil - Pastor Maldonado
Caterham - Heikki Kovalainen - Jarno Trulli
Marussia - Timo Glock - Robert Wickens
HRT - Rubens Barrichello - Who knows? maybe Davide Valsecchi
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Lol! Change Team UAE to Torro Rosso
 
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