Santander “Would Back” De la Rosa In His Quest For A 2010 Seat
Santander Espana boss Enrique Garcia Candelas has said he would be willing to provide sponsorship and money to help Pedro de La Rosa find a race seat for the 2010 season.
The Spanish driver is looking at drives with Campos Meta, USF1 and potentially with the new Sauber team. With all three being “new teams” they are seeking sponsorship, and to an extent pay-drivers.
De la Rosa got the offer at an awards ceremony where he presented an upcoming young racing star with a cheque from the company for sponsorship, joking on -stage “I’m a young star too, can I have a cheque?”
“If it is found it is necessary to support him, we would do it,” Candelas is quoted as saying by Spain’s Diario AS.
I think this could potentially pave the way for him into Campos, being a Spanish based team. Alongside Bruno Senna, there would be no doubting raw talent, experience and a good load of sponsors for the new team.
Santander recently announced a high level sponsorship deal with Scuderia Ferrari, alongside a reduction in sponsorship with McLaren. They have increased their F1 presence by sponsoring a number of Grand Prix including the British GP.
Santander are trying to increase their F1 exposure
Sauber Confident Of Gaining Final Grid Slot As 2010 Car Takes Shape
Peter Sauber has said he is “very confident” that his newly re-formed Sauber team will gain the final grid slot, after an FIA meeting for the 2010 season.
The Swiss businessman bought back his team from BMW and is now hoping to gain the empty grid slot vacated by Toyota. The only stumbling block to this is a report in today’s Blick a Swiss based tabliod saying that Serbian GP outfit ‘Stefan GP’ are to buy Toyota’s operation and rename it in order to avoid some $130million of fines.
The above is increasingly unlikely, and Sauber is confident the Hinwil outfit will make Bahrain next year.
“This agreement means that the future of the team and the location in Hinwil are secured,” he said in an interview with Formulaone.com
“I am very relieved about that development.”
“It would have been a crying shame had one of the best Formula 1 factories closed down. Regarding the slot on the grid I am very confident that we will be given a final confirmation very shortly.”
In terms of his new car, now known as the C29, which will be powered by Ferarri, Sauber is confident regarding its development into a fast paced machine.
“Our 2010 car is perfectly on schedule,” he said. “The development and fabrication have been unaffected by the situation. Having been able to proceed with uninterrupted development was also possible thanks to excellent cooperation with Ferrari, who submitted all the relevant data very early.
“Regarding the performance of the C29 we are all very confident. Two months before the first tests, we have already reached a very good basis for further development.”
Raikkonen On The Verge Of Signing World Rally Deal
Kimi Raikkonen is said to be on the verge of signing a lucrative deal for a season of racing in the World Rally Championship.
The Finnish driver parted company with Ferrari at the end of the season to make way for Fernando Alonso. Taking a £10million pay out across 2010 for not contuing in F1 for a season, Raikkonen’s sabbatical year seems to be taking him to gravel and sand as opposed to another circuit racing series.
The 2007 champion has tried his hand at rally driving before.
The deal is understood to be backed by Red Bull sponsorship, and would see Raikkonen driving the latest Citroen C4 machinery, which has propelled Sebastian Loeb to another World Championship in the sport last season. The Red Bull backing really does seem to cement the theory that in 2011 Raikkonen will make a shock move to the Red Bull Racing F1 team to partner Sebastian Vettel in place of Mark Webber.
It was published on a website tonight that Raikkonen “is understood to be ready to sign a deal”.
Former WRC champion Petter Solberg told WRC.com this evening; “With the proper practice, planning, and testing I think he will adapt quickly,”
“He’s a very, very good driver, and once he’s learned the basics, like how to work with pace notes, I think he will surprise many people.
“If he’s in a decent World Rally Car next season I think he could finish between third and fifth on some rallies,” Solberg predicted for the Finn’s maiden season. “The fact is, if you can drive, you can drive.
“You have to be on the case and you need some balls,” he added.
Villeneuve Spotted Visiting Lotus F1 Operation
Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 World Champion has been spotted visiting Lotus F1′s factory in Norfolk.
The former Williams and BMW driver visited this week to check out how serious Lotus were about their Formula One plans. Villenueve is said to be in talks over a contract with the team, but boss Dany Bahar was just happy Villeneuve made the trip.
The Canadian has always split opinion, and his return is likely to be lukewarm. If Michael Schumacher made a shock return with Mercedes Benz too, this could be one of the most interesting seasons ever. The build up and hype would be almost unbeliveable!
“Jacques’ visit is an honour for Lotus,” stated CEO Bahar.
“Our people are a blend of talent and expertise combined with passion for our brand.”
There are said to be four interested parties for the Lotus’ two seats, with Villeneuve and Jarno Trulli being favourites for the roles.
Force India Retain Sutil And Liuzzi For 2010
Force India have announced they will be retaining the services of Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi as drivers for the forthcoming 2010 season.
The team based at Silverstone will keep the drivers they finished 2009 with.
While Adrian Sutil has now been with the same team since it was running under the Spyker moniker, the race seat is good news for former tester Liuzzi who only got a few races when Giancarlo Fisichella parted ways with Force India for Ferrari.
“We are very pleased to retain the services of both Adrian and Tonio for another season,” said team boss Vijay Mallya.
“We have always maintained that consistency is key at this stage in the team’s development and for the first time in many years we will have the continuity of not only the same drivers, but also the same engine and senior management.
“With this stability now in place I truly believe we have an excellent platform to build on and move forward on our strong 2009 performance. I am sure we have one of the most dynamic line-ups on the grid and I hope this will stand us in good stead in what we all hope will be a transitional year for the team.”
Force India had some really strong performances in 2009, and will be looking to maintain their strength into the new year.
Sauber Buys Team Back From BMW
Peter Sauber has announced that he has purchased his old Formula One team back from BMW.
The businessman sold his successful team to the German car manfuacturer at the end of 2005, and the team achieved some success with Sauber staying on board. His name stayed on the cars too. However with BMW pulling out of the sport, the future of the team remained uncertain.
Qadback Investments Group wanted to buy the team, but their financial dealings are under scrutiny, and Peter Sauber stepped in to get his old team back.
The whole deal is built on whether or not they get the final grid slot, which is yet to be decided, as Toyota have pulled out of the sport.
“We are very happy with this solution,” said Dr Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “This fulfils the most important requirement for a successful future for the team.
“Our relationship with Peter Sauber has always been excellent and marked by absolute respect. We would like to express our thanks to Peter Sauber and the whole team for the excellent cooperation during the recent four years.”
Peter Sauber added; “I am very relieved that we have found this solution. It means we can keep the Hinwil location and the majority of workplaces. I am convinced that the new team has a very good future in Formula One, whose current transformation with new framework conditions will benefit the private teams.
“Our staff here are highly competent and motivated, and I look forward to taking on this new challenge together with them. I would like to thank BMW for four shared years that have in the main been very successful.”
We at The F1 Fanatics Blog are really happy about this, Sauber were a great team and we can just hope they make the 2010 grid!
Volkswagen Consider F1 Engine Supply From 2012
Volkswagen are considering becoming an engine supplier and possible constructor in Formula One from 2012.
The German automotive giant have just had success with their F3 programme, one of their engined cars came out victorious in the prestigious Macau Grand Prix last weekend.
Their motorsport boss, former racer Hans-Joachim Stuck says he wants VW to get to the pinnacle of motorsport, and provide some of the best engines when the new cost cutting measures come into place from the 2012 season.
“If you’re the world’s largest manufacturer is natural that we’re thinking about [Formula 1], but not before 2012,” Stuck told Autosport
“We’re looking for innovative things, and Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport. Two years ago there was some talk that Volkswagen is going to buy the Red Bull F1 team, which we didn’t need to buy. Why should we stick with one team if we can give our engines to more teams?
“If you buy Red Bull and Adrian Newey wants to go flying or fishing, the team is not successful any more. Look at BMW. They bought this multi-million dollar wind tunnel and a supercomputer and they now close the doors. Building an engine and providing it to a team is the best way.”
De la Rosa Still Holding Race Seat Options For 2010
Pedro de La Rosa has spoken of how he is actively looking for a race seat for next season.
The often under-rated Spaniard has been McLaren’s test driver for some time, but has been linked with 2010 drives with two new teams, Campos Meta and US F1.
Campos being Spanish are a likely side he could race for, and to partner their rookie, talented Bruno Senna. However with US F1 announcing they will have their base at Motorland in Spain they look another possibility for de La Rosa.
“It’s still early,” the Spaniard was quoted as saying by the EFE news agency. “There’s no hurry to make a decision. It’s true that US F1 and Motorland reached a deal to have its European logistic base in Alcaniz. The important thing is that the project materialised.
“I don’t know what will happen after that. I don’t know what team I will drive for or in what capacity.
“I can happily stay at McLaren as a reserve driver, and I could do that while racing for another team, or just race for another team. I don’t know, that’s the answer.
“There are options, and whatever I do, people has to be clear that I’m trying everything I can to return to racing in F1.”
With US F1 close to announcing Jose Maria Lopez, a relatively unknown Argentinian driver, as one of their pairing for 2010 the team could do much worse than employing experienced hand de La Rosa.
Could Panasonic Guarantee Kobayashi Renault Seat?
There are reports from a French motoring magazine Auto Hebdo that talented and highly rated rookie Kamui Kobayashi could get a race seat with Renault for 2010 making him Robert Kubica’s team mate.
Kobayashi has been left as a refugee without a drive for next season following Toyota’s withdrawl from F1. Following a couple of good showings at the end of the season standing in for injured Timo Glock, it would seem that sponsorship could pave the way into struggling Renault.
That sponsor would be Panasonic, the huge electrical firm who were Toyota’s title sponsor from inception in 2002. The producer of popular products like Televisions and Blu-Ray players want to keep a presence in Formula One. With Renault struggling to find sponsors following crash gate this could all be a match made in heaven.
If Auto Hebdo is to be believed Kobayashi and Panasonic representatives met Renault in a meeting at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Also helping Kobayashi’s plight is most likely rival Timo Glock being announced with Manor Grand Prix.
Klien Confident Sauber Will Be On 2010 Grid
Christian Klien has declared his confidence that a reformaed Sauber/Qadbak investment team will be on the Bahrain Grand Prix’s grid for the start of the 2010 season.
The Austrian is quietly confident that he will be driving for the new entity, which despite Toyota’s withdrawl from F1 has not been guaranteed a grid spot. Klien mentioned that he would have had a seat with BMW had they remained in the sport for the forthcoming season.
“Had BMW Sauber signed in for 2010 I would most likely have been guaranteed a race seat,” he told his official website.
“As mentioned before, the successor has no official entry for 2010 yet. But everyone in Hinwil is working flat out on next year’s race car.
“Having said that it seems clear that all decisions such as sponsorship deals and driver line-up cannot be announced before that matter is resolved. I am positive that the traditional Sauber team from Hinwil will be on the grid in Bahrain in 2010.”
Rosberg Announced As Mercedes Driver
Nico Rosberg was unveiled this morning as Mercedes Benz GP’s first new driver for the 2010 season.
The highly rated German youngster left Williams after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and was connected with the team before Brawn sold out to Mercedes. When this happened, it became almost 100% certain that Rosberg would join Benz as the manufacturer looked to German drivers.
“I am really happy to be a part of the Silver Arrows re-launch in 2010 as a driver for Mercedes,” said Rosberg.
“No other brand in Formula 1 can look back on such a long and successful tradition in motor racing. I am very proud that I will now drive for the new Mercedes team and work with Ross Brawn.
“I am more motivated than ever and can hardly wait to start testing with the new Silver Arrow and for the first race of the new season at Bahrain in March.”
Speculation is mounting as to who his team mate will be. With internet (and Eddie Jordan’s) finger pointing at Michael Schumacher, lets not forget Nick Heidfeld the “maybe” man has been linked with the drive, could this re-spark his career?
Photo from BrawnGP
BREAKING NEWS: Michael Schumacher To Mercedes Benz?!
Eddie Jordan, former team owner and BBC Sport pundit has said Michael Schumacher is going to Mercedes Benz for the 2010 season.
The outspoke Irishman says that meetings are in progress as I write these words to release Schumacher, 41, from his contract with Ferrari.
The most successful driver of all time to make a massive return to the sport with the new team for 2010 and be reuinted with his former top technical man Ross Brawn.
It is unknown how much Mercedes will pay Schumacher, but it could be around £50million-£100million.
“It started with a meeting between Michael, Ross Brawn and Daimler chief executive officer Dieter Zetsche at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“At the moment, it is not possible for Michael to drive for Mercedes because he has a consultancy contract with Ferrari.
“But I understand he was due to meet Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo with a view to him being released – and that it will be approved because it is in the interests of F1.
“I believe that is being planned at the moment.
“I also believe Ross and Michael have spoken in recent times and that Michael likes the idea of driving a Mercedes run by Ross. It’s a mouth-watering idea.
“Schumacher was bitterly disappointed he didn’t get to come back to replace Massa – he’s keen to race again. And this is a dream for both parties.
“Michael and Mercedes have go way back – he drove for their sportscar team before he raced in F1, and they were responsible for getting him in to F1. They paid the then Jordan team to give him his debut in 1991.
“He has won all these titles but never driven in F1 for Mercedes.”
the idea is that Schumacher will drive for 2010 before Sebastian Vettel is brought in for 2011.
I can’t believe Schumacher is coming back, and I am down right sad that he must have lied about his injuries and the fact he would never drive again back before Valencia after Massa’s accident. If Schumi showed loyalty to his team then he wouldn’t even be considering this. To Ferrari and to Ferrari fans he is a God, but not coming back on minute and then accpeting a massive salary to drive a whole season the next looks a bit dodgy.
As of the moment it is 100% unconfirmed.
Williams Sells Share Of Team To Austrian Investor
Frank Williams and Patrick Head have both sold minority shares of their independent F1 team to an Austrian investment group headed up by businessman and amateur race driver Toto Wolff.
Williams denies that he will be leaving the reigns of the team that bears his name, instead focussing on the fact Wolff could bring plenty of sponsorship and good contacts to the team.
The amont sold is unknown and Toto Wolff was not decisive suggesting somewhere between 10 and 49%, we at TheF1Fanatics Blog reckon its closer to 10 than 49, so perhaps about 20%.
“I have no intention of stopping my involvement in this company or of ceasing my Formula 1 activities,” Williams said.
“I cannot stress highly enough that Toto is a minority shareholder. The company is still under my control and I will not relinquish control of the business until I go completely.
“It’s simply that I want to take care of one or two private needs. I’ve never taken a penny out of the business in 40 years and time is getting on a bit.”
Raikkonen Says 2011 Return Based On Top Team Offer
Kimi Raikkonen has declared he will only be returning to Formula One for the 2011 season if a top competitive team offers him a contract.
The Finn, who was F1 World Champion in 2007, has left the Ferrari F1 team and is likely to be taking a sabbatical in 2010 after contract negotiations with his former employer McLaren hit the rocks and the Vodafone sponsored team employed Jenson Button instead.
“I felt McLaren offered the best opportunity to win races and challenge for the drivers’ championship and if that would not work the one-year break is the result,” he told the official Formula 1 website.
“And to be honest, I will only return in 2011 if a competitive drive is available.”
He added: “I do not want to race just to make up the numbers. That does not interest me. But there’s a lot of time until then, so let’s wait and see what happens in the months ahead.”
Raikkonen’s manager says there could be an opportunity with Mercedes GP, but Kimi reckons they will just employ two Germans.
“No, I have not held talks with Brawn,” he said. “I feel they will run two German drivers next year now that Mercedes are involved.”
Former F1 Driver Larini Announces Touring Car Retirement
Former Ferrari F1 driver Nicola Larini has announced he will be retiring from the World Touring Car Championship series following the completion of the final round of the season this weekend in Macau.
The Italian drove in F1 between 1987 and 1997 completeing 48 GP’s and racing with teams such as Ferrari and Ligier. He got his only podium at the fateful 1994 San Marino Grand Prix where F1 lost Roland Ratzenberger and the great Ayrton Senna.
Outside of F1 he also drove in DTM and ETCC.
“Macau’s round will be my final races as a works drivers in the WTCC,” said Larini in a statement. “I came to the conclusion that it was the moment to move on and time to call it a career as a WTCC driver.
“Chevrolet RML has been my home for five years and I am happy to have spent this time around them, a spell nearly as long as I had with Alfa Romeo and Ferrari before.”
“I am saying goodbye to WTCC in Macau, but I am not saying I’m retiring for good. I still love to race, and if there is a series or an operation that I can join without this taking a toll on my personal life, then I’ll give a hard look to the opportunity,” he added.
Nicola Larini with Ferrari
Jenson Button Confirmed As McLaren Driver For 2010
Jenson Button has been confirmed as a McLaren driver for the 2010 season following a turbulent week in the driver market.
The current reigning World Champion is moving to the team, to partner Lewis Hamilton leaving behind the Brawn GP team just a day after it was taken over by German automotive giant Mercedes Benz.
Button joined the Brawn set up way back when it was called BAR in 2003 following on from a drive with Renault. Button had no luck until 2009 when he smashed the field in a fantastic car built by mastermind Ross Brawn.
“It’s always a difficult decision to leave a team when you’ve been there for so long,” said Button. “But life is all about challenges – and, most important of all, it’s about challenging yourself.
“So, although I won the world championship with Brawn GP last year, and I’ll never forget that, I was always adamant that I wanted to continue to set myself fresh challenges. So that’s why I’ve decided to join Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.
“You can’t help but be affected by this team’s phenomenal history. McLaren is one of the greats of world sport, and its achievements and list of past champions read like a Who’s Who of Formula 1 – Emerson Fittipaldi, James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and of course my new team-mate Lewis Hamilton. I’ve followed the McLaren team ever since I was a small boy, and it feels unbelievable to finally be a part of it.”
Button visited the McLaren technology centre earlier this week, and says he is very impressed with the outfit.
“When I visited the McLaren Technology Centre earlier this month, it wasn’t simply the technical resources and the incredible standards of excellence that impressed me,” Button said. “No, I was equally struck by the ambition, the motivation and the winning spirit that flow through everybody there. And then there’s the team’s epic history: put it this way, the trophy cabinets seem to stretch for miles.”
But Button has already come under criticism from past drivers for jumping ship, most notably from Jackie Stewart the three time world champion.
“I think it’s a mistake by Jenson,” he said. “If I was Jenson, I would’ve wanted to do a deal with Brawn – because I know the culture of the Brawn team, I have high respect for Ross Brawn, I know the mechanics.
“There’s a totally different culture in McLaren, something that he might never have experienced before. They have a very clinical culture which doesn’t have the emotion or the drive in the same passionate way that Brawn would have had with him there as the reigning world champion.”
Former Renault Boys Piquet and Di Grassi Weigh Up 2010 Options
Former Renault drivers Nelson Piquet Jr, and Lucas di Grassi are said to be weighing up their options for the 2010 season of racing.
Lucas di Grassi claims that he is likely to land the second race seat at Manor Grand Prix. The small new team, who will be powered by Cosworth engines, announced Toyota refugee Timo Glock as their first driver yesterday.
Di Grassi claims there are a lot of guys looking at that team, but that he has a good chance and should find out his fate this week.
“My chances of landing a deal with team Manor are good,” di Grassi is quoted as saying by Autosport.
“They have a couple of guys they are looking at for next year, and I am one of them,” the 25-year-old, who was Renault’s third driver for the 2009 season.
Meanwhile disgraced former Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr, says that he could be heading to NASCAR or potentially back into Formula One for 2010.
Piquet, who was given political immunity for testifying against Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds in the infamous crash-gate where Piquet deliberately smashed his Renault F1 car into a wall at the 2008 Singaporean Grand Prix is not likely to recive a warm welcome back to the paddock.
However he claims Force India are taking an interest in his services. If not, then he see NASCAR as an ideal arena to test his skills.
“I am close to Force India at the moment, but to me NASCAR is very interesting so I don’t know yet what is going to happen,” he is quoted as saying by Brazil’s globo.com.
“I don’t want to take a decision without knowing how things work here in the United States”.
Raikkonen Confirms 2010 Sabbatical
Kimi Raikkonen the 2007 F1 World Champion has confirmed he will be taking a sabbatical from Formula One for the 2010 season.
Raikkonen, nicknamed Iceman, was ousted from his Ferrari seat by mutual termination so the team could allow Fernando Alonso in one season early. Raikkonen will be paid some £10million for not racing next season.
He had an option with McLaren but this was said to be dogged with problems, from money, to sponsorship days to even allowing him tom compete in rallying. Also, McLaren seemed a little less interested when the possibility of snapping up current world champion Jenson Button arose.
“The options in F1 were with McLaren next season or not at all,” Steve Robertson, Raikkonen’s manager was quoted as saying by respected Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, which has close links with the Raikkonen camp. “Kimi and McLaren were unable to reach an agreement, so he will not drive at the F1 level – at least not next year.
“A gap year means nothing for Kimi. He is more interested in fighting for wins and the world championship. F1 will miss Kimi. He worked hard over the summer – doing things in a Ferrari that only the best drivers are capable of.”
He will be returning to F1 in 2011, and the only real possibility is with the Red Bull Racing team who could lose Mark Webber at the end of the forthcoming season. Rumour now is being fuelled that Raikkonen could drive a Red Bull sponsored rally car, the Austrian energy drink giant sponsor the world championship winning Citroen team.
Glock Makes Shock Move To Manor GP For 2010
Timo Glock has announced he will be driving for the newly formed Manor GP racing team in Formula One next season.
Glock, 27, was linked with a move to Renault after his former team Toyota pulled out of Formula One a few weeks ago.
Now the 2007 GP2 Champion will drive for the new team, powered by Cosworth engines and likely to be sponsored and backed by Richard Branson’s Virgin group.
“I had several options for 2010, some of them with more established teams,” said Glock.
“Every driver has the same overall objective – to win the world championship one day – but the way I want to succeed is to be part of the process of building a team and to play a key role in developing the car. This is why the opportunity with Manor Grand Prix is so exciting for me.
“I have spent a lot of time with [technical director] Nick Wirth, [team principal] John Booth and other members of the team and what I liked most is that this a real racing team run by true racers.
“The team may be small and new but it has big ambitions and a very impressive car and development programme. I am confident that I can play a big role in terms of my technical input and that’s a fantastic opportunity for me. I can’t wait to start testing the new car early next year.”
With Jenson Button now clearly heading to McLaren, we are literally waiting on an official announcement it leaves the door at Renault open for a various number of drivers, but most likely for Kimi Raikkonen – Renault really are the last team left who could afford the 2007 F1 Champion.
Mercedes Take-Over Brawn: Official Statements
Mercedes Benz have taken over ownership of the Brawn GP team re-naming it Mercedes Benz GP. The announcement came this morning and more information can be found here:
Mercedes Benz and Ross Brawn both released statements this lunchtime detailing the move.
“Mercedes will compete in the F1 world championship next year starting with its own factory team,” said head of Mercedes cars, Dr Dieter Zetsche.
“This is possible by the agreed acquisition of 75.1 per cent of Brawn GP, 45.1 per cent from Daimler and 30 per cent from our partner Aabar Investments. The rest will be with the current share – Ross Brawn, Nick Fry and other members. The interests of Daimler are aligned therefore it will be a true Mercedes-Benz team.
“Ross Brawn will continue to be the team principal and thereby we are maintaining his strength. Just like the engine team at Mercedes Benz High Performance Engines, the new Mercedes Benz grand prix team will be co-ordinated by Mercedes Benz Motorsport which is as everybody knows headed by Norbert Haug.”
Ross Brawn was proud of the team that bore his namesake, and is very happy with the Mercedes deal.
“Both I and my fellow directors at Brawn GP are incredibly proud of our staff, drivers and everyone associated with our team and thank them for their commitment, outstanding teamwork and their focus on achieving results in sometimes difficult circumstances,” he said.
“The senior management group will remain in place to lead our team and on behalf of everyone at Brawn GP, we are honoured to be representing such a prestigious brand as Mercedes-Benz in Formula One next year and will be working together to do our best to reward their faith in our team.”
Mercedes Benz Buy Controlling Stake In Brawn GP
Mercedes Benz have announced that they have purchased a controlling 75% stake in the Brawn GP team.
The German automobile giant had been speculated with a move to Ross Brawn’s championship winning team, which it supplied engines too in 2009, since September and today’s announcement seeked to tidy up the paddock thoughts ahead of 2010 preparations.
It is now likely that Brawn, who won both titles in their maiden season, will be re-named Mercedes Benz Grand Prix however Ross Brawn will stay on as Team Principal alognside Norbert Haug of Mercedes Motorsport.
Mercedes Benz will also be pulling out of McLaren with the team having to buy back the 40% shares over 2 years, but remain with the German’s as an engine supplier until 2015.
Jenson Button is now set to go to McLaren to race alongside Lewis Hamilton, the Briton visited the factory earlier this week. He claims not to be motivated by cash in the move, however his salary is likely to be greater than the £3.5million Brawn offered him.
With Nico Rosberg looking ever more likely to head to the new Mercedes GP team, Nick Heidfeld is a suprise team mate choice, Norberg Haug says he has held various meetings with the perennial underperformer ousted from BMW this season.
“We are speaking with Nick Heidfeld as well,” Haug told DPA.
“Mercedes-Benz supports the idea of signing an experienced and capable German driver. There is however no reason to finalise the driver situation too hastily.”
More news this evening.
Lotus’ First Driver Announcement Imminent
Lotus are set to announce their first new driver for 2010, within a few days or potentially hours.
The Malaysian backed outfit is headed up by Tony Fernandes. He wrote on his official Twitter page;
“Malaysia Formula 1 team, aka Lotus, has signed its first driver,” Fernandes wrote.
“Public announcement soon. The dream continues.”
After a discussion between Fernandes and Autosport Magazine was published recently, it is likely that the two drievrs could be Jarno Trulli and Takuma Sato. Kamui Kobayashi has been linked to the seat and looks an increasingly likely possibility as Fernandes seems to disagree with Mike Gascoyne the technical chief on having 2 experienced drivers and suggests that one youngster would be more useful.
“If we can get a guy who has been doing it for a long time, that’s fantastic because you can’t buy experience and he can help us develop the car and the team,” said Fernandes. “And he can help us after the race, adding value to driver development.
“On the second driver, I think that it’s good to have someone young because sometimes if you have been doing it for 15 years there is a little bit of cynicism and it gets repetitious. If you’ve got an energetic young guy that rubs off on you. Ultimately, I will leave it to Mike and the team to decide.”
Could Lotus' new driver be Jarno Trulli?
Young Drivers Confirmed For Jerez Tests
Many of the Formula One teams have confirmed they will be testing an array of rookie talent from the world of lower formula’s at the forthcoming Jerez tests.
The tests take place over the dates 1st-3rd December.
Red Bull Racing will be testing British F3 champion Daniel Ricciardo, while sister team Toro Rosso will test Brendon Hartley and highly acclaimed Italian Mirko Bortolotti – the man responsible for beatingthe Fiorano lap record in the Ferrari F2008 last winter.
Ferrari themselves will be testing the cream of the talent from Italian F3, Williams take onboard a test for Andy Soucek his prize for winning the Formula 2 series.
Meanwhile BMW Sabuer will give two rookie’s their chance despite their depart from Formula One, with Alexander Rossi and Esteban Gutierrez taking the wheel.
Buemi Signs Contract With Toro’s For 2010
Sebastien Buemi and Scuderia Toro Rosso have confirmed the Swiss driver will be continuing to drive for the Toro’s into 2010.
He was widely regarded as likely to return with the Red Bull junior team, who will be designing and building their own car for the first time next season.
“We have re-signed Buemi for next season, but we have not yet signed Jaime [Alguersuari],” a spokesman told BBC Sport.
Buemi, who is seen by many as a potential future front running driver, said he had discussions over a contract with the Toyota F1 Team before they pulled out of the sport.
“I had some contact with other teams because of my good results at the end of the season,” he told the Television Suisse Romande programme Sport Dimanche.
“Toyota could have been a possibility because they had not yet hired any drivers. That was not the only one, and anyway I was always talking with Red Bull. Finally I signed with Toro Rosso for 2010.”
