formula 1 Formula 1 Silly Season 2015

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

I figure it's time to have a separate thread for all 2015-related driver announcements. 
 
As of now the 2015 grid looks like this: 

Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team
Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid
Executive Director Business: Toto Wolff ; Executive Director Technical: Paddy Lowe ; Technical Director: Bob Bell
44. Lewis Hamilton (signed for ?13-?15)
6. Nico Rosberg (on a multi-year deal beyond ?13)
 
Infiniti Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing RB11 ? Renault Energy F1-2015 (engine deal until ?16)
Team Principal: Christian Horner ; Chief Technical Officer: Adrian Newey
3. Daniel Ricciardo (on a long-term deal)
25. Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull junior driver)
 
Williams Martini Racing
Williams FW37 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid (multi-year deal)
Team Principal: Frank Williams ; Technical Director: Pat Symonds
19. Felipe Massa (confirmed for '15)
77. Valtteri Bottas (confirmed for '15)
 
Scuderia Ferrari
Ferrari F15T ? Ferrari 059/4
Team Principal: Marco Mattiacci ; Technical Director: James Allison; Engineering Director: Pat Fry
14. Fernando Alonso (contracted through ?16, but expected to leave)
7. Kimi R?ikk?nen (contracted through ?15)
5. Sebastian Vettel (not yet confirmed, though highly expected)
 
McLaren Honda
McLaren MP4-30 ? Honda RA168-E 1.6 V6T
Team Principal: Ron Dennis, ?ric Boullier ; Technical Director: Tim Goss, Neil Oatley
22. Jenson Button (option for ?15)
20. Kevin Magnussen (on a long-term deal?)
14. Fernando Alonso (not yet confirmed, though highly expected)
**. Stoffel Vandoorne (part of McLaren junior driver program)
8. Romain Grosjean (rumoured)
5. Sebastian Vettel (rumoured, but unlikely)
 
Force India F1 Team
Force India VJM08 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid (multi-year deal)
Team Principal: Vijay Mallya ; Technical Director: Andrew Green
27. Nico H?lkenberg (confirmed for '15)
11. Sergio P?rez (on a multi-year deal with options; not confirmed for '15 yet)
 
Scuderia Toro Rosso
Toro Rosso STR10 ? Renault Energy F1-2015
Team Principal: Franz Tost ; Technical Director: James Key
**. Max Verstappen (Red Bull junior driver, on a long-term deal)
25. Jean-?ric Vergne (current driver)
**. Carlos Sainz, jr. (Red Bull junior driver)
**. Pierre Gasly (Red Bull junior driver)
**. Alex Lynn (Red Bull junior driver)
 
Lotus F1 Team
Lotus E23 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid
Team Principal: G?rard Lopez ; Technical Director: Nick Chester
13. Pastor Maldonado (confirmed for '15)
8. Romain Grosjean
**. Esteban Ocon (rumoured)
 
Manor F1 Team (went into administration in October '14)
MNR 01 ? Ferrari 059/4
Team Principal: John Booth ; Technical Director: n/a
4. Max Chilton (current driver; maybe with long-term deal)
17. Jules Bianchi (depending on the extent of his injuries, may not return)
 
Sauber F1 Team (team rumoured to be (partly?) sold)
Sauber C34 ? Ferrari 059/4
Team Principal: Monisha Kaltenborn ; Chief Designer: Eric Gandelin
9. Marcus Ericsson (confirmed)
**. Felipe Nasr (confirmed)
 
Caterham F1 Team (went into administration in October '14)
Caterham CT05 ? Renault Energy F1-2015
Team Principal: Manfredi Ravetto ; Technical Director: Colin Kolles
10. Kamui Kobayashi
**. ...

Forza Rossa Racing to participate from '16; expected to run French power units
Haas F1 Team to participate from '16; Ferrari technical partnership confirmed.
 

(source: Autosport forum)

 

It remains to be seen whether or not Caterham and Manor (formerly known as Marussia) can make it onto the grid, or whether there will be three car teams. I'm hoping for the former.

 

As for drivers: At this point we can assume Alonso will be driving a McLaren Honda next year, with Vettel being his replacement at Ferrari. Jenson Button won't have a F1 cockpit next year I'm afraid. 

 

Post any driver announcements you find here, and speculate away which pay driver may get which seat for 2015.

[i11usive]

Button's out according to http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-2822752/Jenson-Button-quit-Formula-One-Fernando-Alonso-replace-Brit-McLaren.html

[Zoom7000]

Really hope Jenson gets the seat next season. Magnussen just hasn't shown the promising talent except for his 2nd place at Australia. Jenson is the much better driver, probably the best in the wet on the grid and his experience would be valuable for McLaren especially as they are changing to Honda engines from next season. Tough times, but the last time he never had a drive at the end of the season, he won the title! :p

[Skiver Veteran]

I fully expect Mclaren to have Alonso and Vettel next year. Button has constantly in the shadow of Hamilton and never seemed like he was capable of another championship unless he was given another dominating car. Magnussen has not impressed me either other than his first race. I think he's made some pretty desperate and reckless moves this season and although I'm sure with just a year or two more in F1 he would start to shine, I think there is more talent out there.

 

A couple of names I wouldn't be suprised to see from GP2
 

J. Palmer < Series winner so a no brainer to give a shot too, If I was to suggest a team I would say maybe a Caterham or Marussia,

J. Cecotto & S. Coletti < I could actually see someone like Ferrari taking a risk and instead of going for the more experienced, hope for an inspired rookie to produce the results of someone like Vettel or Hamilton did when they got their shot in a bigger team.

[JoeC]

Lotus F1 Team

13. Pastor Maldonado (confirmed for '15)

It continues  :cry:

[MightyJordan]

It continues  :cry:

Good news only for him and the "Did Maldonado Crash?" Twitter.

[simonlang]

I fully expect Mclaren to have Alonso and Vettel next year.

 

what are you willing to bet then?

i say: alonso -> mclaren and vettel -> ferrari

[SteveMackinnon]

Good news only for him and the "Did Maldonado Crash?" Twitter.

 

I had no idea that Twitter user existed. Awesome

[Skiver Veteran]

I had no idea that Twitter user existed. Awesome

and a website....

 

http://hasmaldonadocrashedtoday.com/

 

Adding to silly season....

 

 

 

Adrian Sutil says he needs to have talks with Sauber about his position at the team next year after it announced two new drivers for 2015.

In the last week Sauber has confirmed Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr as its two race drivers for next season, leaving Sutil and team-mate Esteban Gutierrez out in the cold. Throughout the year Sutil has insisted he has a contract for 2015 and was expecting to stay at Sauber.

Now he admits he needs clarification on his position and even suggested the team might not be racing next year.

"There are certain things to talk about, definitely yes," Sutil said. "We have confirmed two drivers but it doesn't mean the drivers are going to drive and it doesn't mean the team is going to drive. So there is no real change from last weekend to this weekend. It's just an announcement and now, of course, in my situation I need to do some talking to sort out the things."

Asked if he was confident of remaining in F1 next year, Sutil added: "At the moment, I don't know. Maybe. Formula One can be unpredictable. As I said, we have a few things to talk about first and the team has to comment on the rest.

"I'm not frustrated. It's just how it is in Formula One and has been for many years. It's a little bit a different business, so that's all I can say right now. I look forward to racing my race and that's it."

Read more at http://en.espnf1.com/sauber/motorsport/story/182575.html#H3vMJE4L1pyCZ73y.99

 

Looks like despite Sauber confirming two new "drivers" he's suggesting they may not actually be the "drivers" to race IF the team races at all!?

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

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[123456789A]

Is Super Aguri ever coming back?

[MightyJordan]

Is Super Aguri ever coming back?

They technically did over in Formula E (as Amlin Aguri). Wouldn't count on them fielding an F1 entry too though.

[123456789A]

They technically did over in Formula E (as Amlin Aguri). Wouldn't count on them fielding an F1 entry too though.

 

Oh yeah, Formula E, how's that going?

 

They should also make an F1 for infants called Baby Formula.

[MightyJordan]

Oh yeah, Formula E, how's that going?

The first race was alright, just a ridiculously long wait until the next race; still two weeks to go.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

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[Chasethebase Veteran]

To add to your chart, Verstappen is #38, and Nasr is #40

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

To add to your chart, Verstappen is #38, and Nasr is #40

That leaves us with the following grid then:

Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team

Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid

Executive Director Business: Toto Wolff ; Executive Director Technical: Paddy Lowe ; Technical Director: Bob Bell

44. Lewis Hamilton (signed for ?13-?15)

6. Nico Rosberg (on a multi-year deal beyond ?13)

 

Infiniti Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing RB11 ? Renault Energy F1-2015 (engine deal until ?16)

Team Principal: Christian Horner ; Chief Technical Officer: Adrian Newey

3. Daniel Ricciardo (on a long-term deal)

25. Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull junior driver)

 

Williams Martini Racing

Williams FW37 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid (multi-year deal)

Team Principal: Frank Williams ; Technical Director: Pat Symonds

19. Felipe Massa (confirmed for '15)

77. Valtteri Bottas (confirmed for '15)

 

Scuderia Ferrari

Ferrari F15T ? Ferrari 059/4

Team Principal: Marco Mattiacci ; Technical Director: James Allison; Engineering Director: Pat Fry

14. Fernando Alonso (contracted through ?16, but expected to leave)

7. Kimi R?ikk?nen (contracted through ?15)

5. Sebastian Vettel (not yet confirmed, though highly expected)

 

McLaren Honda

McLaren MP4-30 ? Honda RA168-E 1.6 V6T

Team Principal: Ron Dennis, ?ric Boullier ; Technical Director: Tim Goss, Neil Oatley

22. Jenson Button (option for ?15)

20. Kevin Magnussen (on a long-term deal?)

14. Fernando Alonso (not yet confirmed, though highly expected)

**. Stoffel Vandoorne (part of McLaren junior driver program)

8. Romain Grosjean (rumoured)

5. Sebastian Vettel (rumoured, but unlikely)

 

Force India F1 Team

Force India VJM08 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid (multi-year deal)

Team Principal: Vijay Mallya ; Technical Director: Andrew Green

27. Nico H?lkenberg (confirmed for '15)

11. Sergio P?rez (confirmed for '15)

 

Scuderia Toro Rosso

Toro Rosso STR10 ? Renault Energy F1-2015

Team Principal: Franz Tost ; Technical Director: James Key

38. Max Verstappen (Red Bull junior driver, on a long-term deal)

25. Jean-?ric Vergne (current driver)

**. Carlos Sainz, jr. (Red Bull junior driver)

**. Pierre Gasly (Red Bull junior driver)

**. Alex Lynn (Red Bull junior driver)

 

Lotus F1 Team

Lotus E23 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid

Team Principal: G?rard Lopez ; Technical Director: Nick Chester

13. Pastor Maldonado (confirmed for '15)

8. Romain Grosjean

**. Esteban Ocon (rumoured)

 

Sauber F1 Team (team rumoured to be (partly?) sold)

Sauber C34 ? Ferrari 059/4

Team Principal: Monisha Kaltenborn ; Chief Designer: Eric Gandelin

9. Marcus Ericsson (confirmed)

40. Felipe Nasr (confirmed)

 

Caterham F1 Team (went into administration in October '14)

Caterham CT05 ? Renault Energy F1-2015

Team Principal: Manfredi Ravetto ; Technical Director: Colin Kolles

10. Kamui Kobayashi

**. ...

Forza Rossa Racing to participate from '16; expected to run French power units

Haas F1 Team to participate from '16; Ferrari technical partnership confirmed.

Manor F1/Marussia has folded as of November 7, 2014.

[Chasethebase Veteran]

Additionally it seems rumours are swirling that Button is going to Toyota in WEC. Haven't got a link handy at the moment.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Fernando Alonso finalises switch to McLaren F1 team

 

Fernando Alonso's switch to the McLaren Formula 1 team is set to be confirmed before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, once the team knows who his team-mate will be.

 

Sources close to the Woking-based outfit have revealed that Alonso has now finalised a big-money move from Ferrari to McLaren next year, renewing a partnership that ended prematurely in 2007 after a tumultuous campaign.

 

His decision to accept McLaren's overtures has, however, forced the team into making a difficult decision between Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen for the seat alongside him.

 

The closeness of their performances this year has left the team unable to come to a swift conclusion about who should line up alongside Alonso.

 

For while Magnussen has impressed with his pace this season, it is Button's higher scoring rate and experience, which would help development of the new Honda engine, that has left some senior figures believing it should go with him.

 

It is suggested that Alonso would prefer for Button to remain on board next year because it would help accelerate the team's push towards the front of the grid.

 

However, financial factors could also play a role in the decision, with Magnussen being a much cheaper option for the team.

 

Brazil performance a boost for Button

 

Button did his chances of earning a new contract no harm in the Brazilian Grand Prix, coming home fourth behind the two Mercedes drivers and Felipe Massa's Williams.

 

It is understood that meetings will take place at Woking this week to finally settle whether it is Button or Magnussen who stays on board in 2015.

 

Button said at the weekend he is keeping focused on his driving, hoping it is enough to win over McLaren's bosses.

 

"I'm here to race [and] do the best job I can which is what I try and do every weekend," he said.

 

"Sometimes it doesn't work out but most of the time it does.

 

"All you've got to do is drive the car as fast as you can and carry yourself as well as you can. The rest isn't in your hands."

 

Vettel announcement imminent

 

Confirmation of Alonso's 2015 plans will clear the way for Ferrari to finally go public that his replacement next year will be Sebastian Vettel.

 

As part of its settlement with Alonso to end his contract early, Ferrari agreed that it would not announce its 2015 line-up until the Spaniard had settled his future.

 

However, Red Bull's decision to go public at the Japanese Grand Prix that Vettel was leaving for Ferrari has meant his switch to Maranello became an open secret.

 

Source: Autosport

[Skiver Veteran]

Rumours are RBR and Ferrari have been officially requested to run 3 cars next season;

 

 

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has denied that a request has been made to Red Bull and Ferrari to field third cars next season, but reiterated that such a provision does exist in the regulations.

According to reports, F1 superpowers Red Bull and Ferrari have indicated that, if asked, they will run three cars next season.

The Times newspaper claims that both teams will field an additional car in 2015 if, as expected, neither Marussia nor Caterham return to the sport.

?If the numbers drop below a certain number - which I think is 16 - we are obliged to run a third car, that is in our contract. But that is not the case and we haven?t been requested to,? Red Bull boss Christian Horner told Sky F1.

?We hope all the teams will be there and support a full grid of two-car teams. We want a healthy grid, healthy racing and competitive racing.?

 

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/12474/9557873/ferrari-and-red-bull-to-run-three-cars-in-2015

[MightyJordan]

 

^^ Deleted soon after tweeting.

[MightyJordan]

 

Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One chief executive, has revealed that he is no longer pushing for a repeat of his controversial scheme to award double points at the last race of the season.

 

Formula One personalities and fans opposed the innovation ? which will decide the world-title battle between Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at the season-ending final race next weekend in Abu Dhabi ? from the moment it was announced in December last year.

 

Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel said it was ?absurd and punishes those who have worked hard for a whole season?. More recently, Mercedes? executive director, Toto Wolff, said: ?Nobody likes the double points... I don?t think Bernie even likes them now. It?s going to be something that we should probably be getting rid of for next season.?

Ecclestone created the plan but had actually pushed for the last three races to be worth double, which would have put less emphasis on the season-ender. ?One race is stupid but imagine if it was the last three races,? he told The Independent. ?It means that somebody would have to have a 150-point advantage minimum to be sure they will win. The teams have not accepted it because they are bloody idiots. They are all mechanics. They think of their team in the short term.?

 

Repeating the scheme requires consent from all of the teams and Ecclestone added: ?I?m not going to  propose the three races again. I?m going to let them get on with it. I don?t know what we?re going to do next year.?

 

The double-points plan was not just criticised because it would skew race results but also because it favoured Abu Dhabi, which is often one of the most processional grands prix.

 

It makes the race worth twice as much as classics like the British Grand Prix and Monaco, with the winner receiving 50 points instead of the usual 25. Rosberg trails Hamilton by 17 points ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP so awarding double at the finale increases his chances of taking the title.

 

In a separate interview published on Friday, Ecclestone railed against the younger generation and said  Formula One would rather cater for rich over-seventies than chase fans who cannot afford luxury watches.

 

The 84-year-old Briton told Campaign Asia-Pacific magazine that teenagers were uninterested in the sort of high-end global sponsors his series was promoting.

?Young kids will see the Rolex [watch] brand but are they going to go and buy one? They can?t afford it. Or our other sponsor UBS ? these kids don?t care about banking. They haven?t got enough money to put in the bloody banks anyway. That?s what I think,? he said.

?I don?t know why people want to get to the so-called ?young generation?.

 

?Why do they want to do that? Is it to sell them something? Most of these kids haven?t got any money. I?d rather get to the 70-year-old guy who?s got plenty of cash.

 

?So, there?s no point trying to reach these kids because they won?t buy any of the products here and if marketers are aiming at this audience, they maybe they should advertise with Disney.?

 

Ecclestone was also dismissive of efforts to widen Formula One?s demographic, with all the teams now employing social media specialists to raise their presence at a time when some television audiences are declining.

 

Many drivers, not just those who made their debuts as teenagers but also the older ones, are also avid users of Twitter and other social platforms.

 

?I?m not interested in tweeting, Facebook and whatever this nonsense is,? said Ecclestone. ?I tried to find out but in any case I?m too old-fashioned. I couldn?t see any value in it.

 

?And I don?t know what the so-called ?young generation? of today really wants. What is it? You ask a 15 or 16-year-old kid, ?What do you want?? and they don?t know. The challenge is getting the audience in the first place.?

 

The Briton said nobody would miss the Marussia and Caterham teams, which went into administration last month. With typically controversial language, Ecclestoone suggested other struggling teams should simply spend less.

 

?These teams don?t need to be in financial trouble,? he insisted. ?They need to think about what they have got to spend and do the best they can with that... it?s the same problem with ladies and credit cards.?

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/bernie-ecclestone-will-drop-double-points-in-formula-one-next-season-9862218.html

 

Quite a few facepalm-worthy sentences from Bernie there, but at least the dreaded double points are gone.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

The wait continues:

 

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[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

It's official: 

 

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[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Updated grid:

Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team
Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid
Executive Director Business: Toto Wolff ; Executive Director Technical: Paddy Lowe ; Technical Director: Bob Bell
44. Lewis Hamilton (signed for ?13-?15)
6. Nico Rosberg (on a multi-year deal beyond ?13)
 
Infiniti Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing RB11 ? Renault Energy F1-2015 (engine deal until ?16)
Team Principal: Christian Horner ; Chief Technical Officer: Adrian Newey
3. Daniel Ricciardo (on a long-term deal)
25. Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull junior driver)
 
Williams Martini Racing
Williams FW37 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid (multi-year deal)
Team Principal: Frank Williams ; Technical Director: Pat Symonds
19. Felipe Massa (confirmed for '15)
77. Valtteri Bottas (confirmed for '15)
 
Scuderia Ferrari
Ferrari F15T ? Ferrari 059/4
Team Principal: Marco Mattiacci ; Technical Director: James Allison; Engineering Director: Pat Fry
14. Fernando Alonso (contracted through ?16, but expected to leave)
7. Kimi R?ikk?nen (contracted through ?15)
5. Sebastian Vettel (not yet confirmed, though highly expected)
 
McLaren Honda
McLaren MP4-30 ? Honda RA168-E 1.6 V6T
Team Principal: Ron Dennis, ?ric Boullier ; Technical Director: Tim Goss, Neil Oatley
22. Jenson Button (option for ?15)
20. Kevin Magnussen (on a long-term deal?)
14. Fernando Alonso (not yet confirmed, though highly expected)
**. Stoffel Vandoorne (part of McLaren junior driver program)
8. Romain Grosjean (rumoured)
5. Sebastian Vettel (rumoured, but unlikely)
 
Force India F1 Team
Force India VJM08 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid (multi-year deal)
Team Principal: Vijay Mallya ; Technical Director: Andrew Green
27. Nico H?lkenberg (confirmed for '15)
11. Sergio P?rez (confirmed for '15)
 
Scuderia Toro Rosso
Toro Rosso STR10 ? Renault Energy F1-2015
Team Principal: Franz Tost ; Technical Director: James Key
38. Max Verstappen (Red Bull junior driver, on a long-term deal)
25. Jean-?ric Vergne (current driver)
**. Carlos Sainz, jr. (Red Bull junior driver)
**. Pierre Gasly (Red Bull junior driver)
**. Alex Lynn (Red Bull junior driver)
 
Lotus F1 Team
Lotus E23 ? Mercedes PU106B Hybrid
Team Principal: G?rard Lopez ; Technical Director: Nick Chester
13. Pastor Maldonado (confirmed for '15)
8. Romain Grosjean
 
Sauber F1 Team (team rumoured to be (partly?) sold)
Sauber C34 ? Ferrari 059/4
Team Principal: Monisha Kaltenborn ; Chief Designer: Eric Gandelin
9. Marcus Ericsson (confirmed)
40. Felipe Nasr (confirmed)
 
Caterham F1 Team (went into administration in October '14)
Caterham CT05 ? Renault Energy F1-2015
Team Principal: Manfredi Ravetto ; Technical Director: Colin Kolles
10. Kamui Kobayashi
**. ...
Forza Rossa Racing to participate from '16; expected to run French power units
Haas F1 Team to participate from '16; Ferrari technical partnership confirmed.
Manor F1/Marussia has folded as of November 7, 2014.