2013 Driver Changes - Early Predictions?

Aidan Keranen · Oct 29, 2012

I wonder if Hulkenburg goes to Sauber, perhaps Kovalainen to Force India?
Meanwhile I think Kobayashi might be benched

Hampus Andersson · Oct 31, 2012

Hulken is going to Sauber, official now.

http://www.sauberf1team.com/en/news..._F1_Team_signs_on_brNico_Huelkenberg_for_2013

Probably Gutierrez taking the other Sauber, Kamui will have to move on.
And Sutil will probably come back to FI

Chris Jenkins · Oct 31, 2012

Updated to add Hulkenburg to Sauber.

My prediction now:

-Gutierez to Sauber
-Sutil back to Force India

Chris Jenkins · Oct 31, 2012

Toro Rosso confirm the same drivers for 2013

S4Sonny · Nov 3, 2012

Not looking promising for Kobayashi in 2013, which is a shame.

Absolutely guttered by the fact Kamui will most likely be forced out of a drive, c'mon Japan, throw some sponsorship money in for him!

Chris Jenkins · Nov 23, 2012

Updated to include Pic's move to Caterham and Gutierrez's confirmation at Sauber.

Paves the way for Max Chiton to buy his seat at Marussia.
Who will disappear from Caterham? Heikki or Petrov?

Only a few seats left now. Who will end up at Force India?

James Bannister · Nov 23, 2012

Chris Jenkins said:
Updated to include Pic's move to Caterham and Gutierrez's confirmation at Sauber.

Paves the way for Max Chiton to buy his seat at Marussia.
Who will disappear from Caterham? Heikki or Petrov?

Only a few seats left now. Who will end up at Force India?

I wonder if Heikki could be on the move to Force India and they keep Petrov or get a completely new driver line up. Going to be weird if I don't see Kobi their though!

Also think Grosjean will stay at Lotus, especially if he has a clean race, think they'd give him at least 1 more year.

Hampus Andersson · Nov 23, 2012

Force India seems to be interested in Sutil again. He ran with Di Resta and was the quicker guy in Paul´s rookie year so that is a safe bet i guess.

Malliya is a very smart person, doesn´t pick an Indian driver just because, but rather looks for the best talent he can find regardless of nationality.

Alberto Casado · Nov 23, 2012

Some months ago I saw an interview with Alguersuari where he talked as if he had already something signed for next year.

Tony Holder · Nov 23, 2012

Hampus Andersson said:
Force India seems to be interested in Sutil again. He ran with Di Resta and was the quicker guy in Paul´s rookie year so that is a safe bet i guess.

Malliya is a very smart person, doesn´t pick an Indian driver just because, but rather looks for the best talent he can find regardless of nationality.

I read yesterday that Sutil may come back to Force India.

Chris Jenkins · Nov 23, 2012

Alberto Casado said:
Some months ago I saw an interview with Alguersuari where he talked as if he had already something signed for next year.

I saw that too but he never said if it was in F1 or not though

JakkeFin · Nov 25, 2012

Valtteri Bottas replaces Bruno Senna 2013

Chris Jenkins · Nov 26, 2012

Has this been announced? I know it's likely but I don't think it's official yet.

JakkeFin · Nov 26, 2012

Soon

(ill say wednesday)

http://totalf1.com/full_story/view/437181/Bottas_certain_to_secure_Williams_race_seat/

DarkZenith · Nov 26, 2012

JakkeFin said:
Valtteri Bottas replaces Bruno Senna 2013

Poor Senna. Bottas is going to have to do something very special indeed, or that's a pointless replacement. Anyone get the feeling money is involved again?

Ketnix · Nov 26, 2012

Bottas has been tipped as quite the competitive driver. He's won the GP3 series and the Formula Reno 2.0 series.

But Senna did have quite the issue with having to let Bottas take the first practice session for most of the season, which is a disadvantage. But giving Bottas such time indicates Williams really think they've got something.

DarkZenith · Nov 26, 2012

Ketnix said:
Bottas has been tipped as quite the competitive driver. He's won the GP3 series and the Formula Reno 2.0 series.

But Senna did have quite the issue with having to let Bottas take the first practice session for most of the season, which is a disadvantage. But giving Bottas such time indicates Williams really think they've got something.

Bah, they always think they've got the next something. They would do well to improve their car first, and then worry about the drivers. Even the very best drivers need good machinery under them, and I just don't see that in the Williams.

Markus Neumann · Nov 26, 2012

DarkZenith said:
Poor Senna. Bottas is going to have to do something very special indeed, or that's a pointless replacement. Anyone get the feeling money is involved again?

DarkZenith said:
Bah, they always think they've got the next something. They would do well to improve their car first, and then worry about the drivers. Even the very best drivers need good machinery under them, and I just don't see that in the Williams.

First: yes, there is money involved, but it's not coming from Bottas. He's got close to nothing, whereas Senna is bringing in quite a lot, so you can hardly accuse Williams of choosing money over talent here. Bottas has proven at the Young Driver Test last year as well as the FP1 sessions this year that he's extremely capable, whereas Senna has been completely overshadowed by Maldonado who still has wasted at least as many points as he as gathered.
On your second point: The car was great this year, they'd be a lot higher up in the WCC if their drivers weren't such morons.
Seems to me like you've got it all backwards

DarkZenith · Nov 26, 2012

Markus Neumann said:
First: yes, there is money involved, but it's not coming from Bottas. He's got close to nothing, whereas Senna is bringing in quite a lot, so you can hardly accuse Williams of choosing money over talent here. Bottas has proven at the Young Driver Test last year as well as the FP1 sessions this year that he's extremely capable, whereas Senna has been completely overshadowed by Maldonado who still has wasted at least as many points as he as gathered.
On your second point: The car was great this year, they'd be a lot higher up in the WCC if their drivers weren't such morons.
Seems to me like you've got it all backwards

If Bottas isn't supplying money, then I fail to see the attraction. Senna has not been overshadowed, and can at least keep his car on the track, and away from stupid accidents; Maldonardo would do well to take a page out of his book. Just because the latter won a single race, it does not make him a better driver.

Bottas is no more proven than any other young driver, and there is a lot of risk involved in taking him over someone with experience, risk which I doubt will be well rewarded for at least a year or two (if they even keep him that long).

As for the car, it was certainly better, but still left a lot of room for improvement. Certainly they cannot expect miracles from their drivers, not unless they do something amazing with it for 2013.

Markus Neumann · Nov 26, 2012

DarkZenith said:
If Bottas isn't supplying money, then I fail to see the attraction. Senna has not been overshadowed, and can at least keep his car on the track, and away from stupid accidents; Maldonardo would do well to take a page out of his book. Just because the latter won a single race, it does not make him a better driver.

Bottas is no more proven than any other young driver, and there is a lot of risk involved in taking him over someone with experience, risk which I doubt will be well rewarded for at least a year or two (if they even keep him that long).

As for the car, it was certainly better, but still left a lot of room for improvement. Certainly they cannot expect miracles from their drivers, not unless they do something amazing with it for 2013.