The '13 driver transfer discussion/speculation thread op updated 16/10

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prisonermonkeys
Frijns to get "long-term Sauber deal":

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103708

Although there's no word on what kind of a deal that might be. The team is continuing to prepare Esteban Gutierrez for a race seat as well. The Abu Dhabi Young Driver Tests might be a good old-fashioned contest for the second Sauber seat.
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If that's true along with the rumors that Nico Hulkenberg has signed for Sauber, it seems all the more likely that Kamui will need to find himself a drive at another team for next season. Although the only realistic option I can see is Williams. Unless Kamui takes Hulkenberg's place at Force India?
 
That depends on what Force India want in a driver. Jaime Algersuari, Adrian Sutil, Sebastien Buemi and Jules Bianchi have all been linked to that seat as well.
 
prisonermonkeys
More talk from Red Bull that Vettel isn't going anywhere:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/oct/26/red-bull-sebastian-vettel-ferrari
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I know it seems trivial, but when he kissed the RB8 after winning the last race I got the impression that he is quite happy and there's no reason to make a change to his circumstances. He's likely well on his way to a third straight WDC and I'd have to imagine he's at least considered the lofty notion of hunting down the gauntlet that Schumacher has thrown with 7 world titles. He's still the clear #1 driver at the team, and Mark's potential retirement in the next couple of years has already been a talking point. Ferrari is a legendary team, but I really don't see the interest in joining them at the moment because Newey has shown the ability to adapt and the team is still a good step ahead of the rest of the field.
 
Honestly, I think Vettel is too immature for Ferrari. It's not the same kind of immaturity that Lewis Hamilton has shown in the past - I'm thinking more the immaturity that teenage boys show. I can't imagine Ferrari would be happy with a driver who flashes his finger for the crowd and the cameras whenever he gets pole or wins a race, and nor can I see them encouraging a driver whose victory celebrations on the radio consist of a Fred Flinstone-esque "yabba-dabba-doooo!". And I defiantely can't see them tolerating a driver who frequently and blatantly ignores instructions from the pit wall simply so that he can say he set the fastest lap of the race.
 
prisonermonkeys
Honestly, I think Vettel is too immature for Ferrari. It's not the same kind of immaturity that Lewis Hamilton has shown in the past - I'm thinking more the immaturity that teenage boys show. I can't imagine Ferrari would be happy with a driver who flashes his finger for the crowd and the cameras whenever he gets pole or wins a race, and nor can I see them encouraging a driver whose victory celebrations on the radio consist of a Fred Flinstone-esque "yabba-dabba-doooo!". And I defiantely can't see them tolerating a driver who frequently and blatantly ignores instructions from the pit wall simply so that he can say he set the fastest lap of the race.
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Man, that seriously just cracked me up. :lol: It's all true.


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prisonermonkeys
Honestly, I think Vettel is too immature for Ferrari. [...] I can't imagine Ferrari would be happy with a driver who flashes his finger for the crowd and the cameras whenever he gets pole or wins a race, and nor can I see them encouraging a driver whose victory celebrations on the radio consist of a Fred Flinstone-esque "yabba-dabba-doooo!".
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You mean like jumping up in the air from the top step of the podium, or punching his fists in the air like he's milking a cow? Hmmm....actions like that remind me of a certain German driver that once drove for Ferrari.

Honestly, I don't think Ferrari cares, so as long as they get the most talented drivers available, and they're willing to not verbally fault the brand.
 
Taken on its own, its not really that big a deal. But this isn't one isolated episode - I'm thinking more in terms of his beaviour as a whole. He is quite immature at times.

But even if you discount all of that stuff, Ferrari still isn't going to tolerate a driver who blatantly ignores instructions from the pit wall as Vettel regularly does.
 
I don't see how Vettel has been immature in any way...

I only see it as him being naturally more enthusiastic in his post race celebrations as compared to other drivers, that's all. (Which feels nice to see for a change) :D

Apart from that, I don't see how he has been immature, especially with how he has shown much improved maturity in terms of racecraft, and extracting the maximum potential out of his cars in qualifying in particular, and the race.

After taking all this into account, I feel he's quite mature, especially for a driver of such a young age really.
 
Sigh. What is the point of the "exciting" tyres when Pirelli is being conservative with their tyre choice? Even worse, Pirelli say they're not being conservative, but it's currently the same thing that happened at the end of '11.
 
What would you guys think of Sebastian Leob trying out for Webers seat if he retires and/or Sebastian Vettel if he does leave for Ferrari?
 
He failed to qualify for a superlicence the last time he tried. I don't see why he'd try again. I also don't see why Red Bull would take such a gamble.
 
Loeb is 38 and has a lot on his place as it is, with part-time WRC and his own ELMS racing team, which is trying to go to Le Mans.
 
Radracing
What would you guys think of Sebastian Leob trying out for Webers seat if he retires and/or Sebastian Vettel if he does leave for Ferrari?
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Where on earth is this coming from?

Loeb previously attempted to make a Formula 1 debut at Abu Dhabi in 2009. He wanted to drive Jaime Alguersuari's Toro Rosso. The FIA refused to issue a superlicence, because they did not recognise the World Rally Championship as a category where winning would make a driver elegible for a superlicence. So he paid to test a GP2 car as the first step towards securing a superlicence, and was dismally off the pace - he was slower than Vladimir Arabadzhiev, and Arabadzhiev was about three seconds per lap slower than the fastest drivers. The idea of Loeb racing in Formula 1 was quickly and quietly dropped.

So if he could barely keep up the pace in a GP2 car, thereby killing off the idea of racing for Toro Rosso, how on earth could he stand any hope of racing for Red Bull?
 
Loeb is undeniably one of the most talented rally drivers ever, but expecting him to get into an F1 car now is like expecting Michael Jordan to get into professional Baseball.

Yep. That's going to work. :dopey:
 
Loeb wont come in F1, there's several rumor going on about where he's gonna go.

Next year he'll probably do some endurance race and there's big rumor in WTCC that Citroen might join with a Loeb/Mueller combo in 2014. Time will tell.
 
HeXoSKEL3t0n
I don't see how Vettel has been immature in any way...

I only see it as him being naturally more enthusiastic in his post race celebrations as compared to other drivers, that's all. (Which feels nice to see for a change) :D

Apart from that, I don't see how he has been immature, especially with how he has shown much improved maturity in terms of racecraft, and extracting the maximum potential out of his cars in qualifying in particular, and the race.

After taking all this into account, I feel he's quite mature, especially for a driver of such a young age really.
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Hamilton showed similar maturity at 22, it can all change if Vettel doesn't have the car he wants. He seems nice and mature enough when he's winning but I can't imagine him being like that when things aren't going right (he's called Hamilton 'stupid' and Karthikeyan a 'cucumber' after driving into Karthikeyan this season).
 
Raikkonen has resigned with Lotus for 2013.

Autosport
Kimi Raikkonen re-signs with Lotus for a second season
By Simon Strang Monday, October 29th 2012, 07:50 GMT



Kimi Raikkonen has re-signed for Lotus, the team confirmed in a special promotional video on Monday morning.

The 2007 Formula 1 world champion, who returned to the sport at the beginning of this year after two seasons competing in the World Rally Championship, currently lies third in the 2012 drivers' standings.

The 33-year-old had long been expected to remain with Lotus for a second season. The team had an option for 2013 based upon certain performance criteria being met, which it has achieved comfortably.

Despite not winning a race on his return, Raikkonen has impressed with six podium finishes and has attained remarkable consistency, scoring points in every race except the Chinese Grand Prix and completing every racing lap in 2012 so far.
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103853
 
Not surprising. He's got a good team behind him and a good car, and though he's not really close to the title now, he's had an excellent shot at it. Perhaps no other teams but McLaren or Red Bull would have given him such results.
 
niky
Not surprising. He's got a good team behind him and a good car, and though he's not really close to the title now, he's had an excellent shot at it. Perhaps no other teams but McLaren or Red Bull would have given him such results.
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Agree 100%, except I might add Ferrari to that list. ;)
 
Nah, the F2012 really needs someone who can drive the car beyond its limits. If Raikkonen were in it, he'd probably be doing better than Massa - but he wouldn't be doing as well as Alonso.
 
Not quite sure how much of that is on Ferrari and how much Alonso.

I mean, Kimi is possibly as quick or quicker than Alonso. There's no doubting his massive speed when he was at McLaren and Ferrari before, but I wonder if he'd have been as immediately successful in a Ferrari. Remember, the Ferrari was horrible at the start of the season, and from all appearances, a dog to drive, both for Alonso and Massa.

Kimi had reportedly had some small issues with the steering at Lotus, but I imagine he would have been struggling to match Alonso's results at Ferrari if he was trying to reacclimatize to F1 and work around a dog of a car at the same time.

If it had been his second year back, maybe then we could have seen fireworks. :D
 
Raikkonen's "massive speed" is equal to that of Massa's. He would probably be more consistent than Massa has been, but he's most likely not as fast as Alonso.
 
I feel like Raikkonen staying at Lotus was just a generic one we all knew was going to happen.
 
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We're talking "Couldn't be bothered, I've already got my Driver's Title" Kimi compared to pre-accident Felipe, right? :D I think Kimi is more motivated now than he was when he finally left Ferrari.

Won't make any bets as to whether he can match Alonso in a bad car. Because I'm pretty sure he can't.

But in a good car, maybe, possibly... definitely? Kimi has, at times, shown brilliant car control, with microsecond-quick steering inputs and corrections and incredible speed. It's perhaps this lightness of touch that led to his problems with the Lotus, initially, but now it suits him perfectly fine.
 
Kimi is Konsistent, and it's a good quality to have. That's what has kept him mathematically in the hunt these last few races.

He seems much more at ease at Lotus than he ever did at Ferrari, and it's no surprise that he's resigned. Although I must admit that that teaser video from a few weeks back did have me hoping of a surprise move to McLaren. While the Lotus is not a world beater, it is far from a terrible car and Kimi has shown that if you give him a good car, he can deliver. At the age of 33, no less. I won't be expecting a title challenge next year, but I hope for the odd race win for Raikkonen in 2013.
 
Kimi Trollkonen: New teaser created for a 'new contract', turns out to be only a promotion for a clothing endorsement deal. :D

whatwillkimidonext.com/

As for the matter on how Raikkonen should fare against Alonso in the F2012, I don't think he'd really be as far off Alonso's pace, as some people here seem to believe in.

Yes Alonso may have been brilliant in maximising points scored for Ferrari, and may seem to be doing miracles with the F2012, but I don't think that the F2012 is that slow as most people seem to believe... Ferrari has also certainly been very strong at the development race, that's why Alonso is able to come to this stage in the championship, especially with a car that could consistently challenge for the top 5 for all the races since the huge Mugello update.

I don't think one could simply go on to this stage of the championship with a complete dog of a car really... IMO, too much people seem to be giving Alonso a little too much credit, he certainly wouldn't have been able to do it without some underlying pace the F2012 has had, thanks to Ferrari's strong consistent development of the car itself throughout the season, unlike other rivals, who have been suffering from dips in pace at various parts of the season.

Even though, I'll admit he has certainly been brilliant (and with a bit of luck too) to capitalise the most on his rivals' faltering and random-ish forms earlier this season with consistently strong finishes, to extend such a lead previously.
 
Agree.

The car been been pretty quick since Barcelona and most importantly, consistent and reliable. However, it have probably never been the fastest car during a race weekend.

And as a team, they've been doing a great job. Good strategy and fast and consistent pit stops.

In my opinion, Alonso is the best driver currently in Formula One and he probably deserve the title most considering his equipment, but I think Vettel will win the title in USA (and I hope so!) and Red Bull will win the title in Abu Dhabi.

And on Kimi: I think he could've more points by now. He have been incredibly consistent, but I think his driving have been a bit cautious.
 
I think Kimi could have done way better. From what I could get, he's not doing as many laps as other top driver in the FP, then he struggle in qualification (Grosjean finished ahead of him quite a few times) but does really good in race. If he could be a bit ahead on qualification he could have made far better result and maybe won a race or two.

I think his lazyness and coldness was the main reason he didnt won a race yet. Back at the start of the season Eric Boullier was complaining about the lack of communication between his team and Kimi.

I believe Alonso is the best driver currently and there's no way Kimi could have done what Alonso have done this year in a Ferrari. That's my opinion tho.
 
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