F1-Blog

Weekly roundup

I've decided to do a weekly roundup for the world of F1. ITV-F1 used to have a column called 'The Mole', well I'm not so much a mole as a Curious Bystander, so that is what I shall name it.

This week we have a good chunk of news and rumours to go through. There is the 'news' that Schumi has signed a $60 million 2 year deal with Ferrari and that Rossi will make his mind up shortly on his future. The news39;s that Toyota and Honda have both 'got their tyre problems sorted', as well as the huge serge to join F1 in 2008.

First up then is the teams asking to join in 2008. Some of these are well established teams in their own rights, Prodrive have shown themselves in WRC for years now running the works Subaru team. Then their is the news that the Minardi team with Paul Stoddard will be back as well, and that Carlin Motorsport want to move up from the F3 ranks into the big game.

Unfortunately for some of them however they will not be allowed to race. The grid limit is 12 teams (of 2 cars) so we have at least 2 of the aforementioned teams out in the cold. Who will it be? Well David Richards from Prodrive used to run the BAR team, and was ousted, so who did he annoy? was it just Honda/BAT or was it other people in the pit lane? Paul Stoddard is a well know antagonist of the FIA, the other team bosses seem to like him at times and dislike him at others, will the FIA veto his entry, or they may not have too as Warwick county council may not even let them build the facility outside of Birmingham? We are then left with Carlin Motorsport who have no F1 baggage.

Then there is the strange situation next year where there are more top drives available than top drivers, We now 'know' that one of the Ferrari seat's has gone to MS, with the other available. Then there is the Renault seat that Alonso has left vacated now he has gone to Mclaren. Then there is the Red Bull seat's, Coultard will probably go into management sometime soon. Toyota have got a bit more budget after saving the Gasgoyne wages. Yes Ralph is set to stay till the end of 2007 but he certainly has not delivered enough to justify the rumoured $20+ million wage slip. Then we have the second seat at Mclaren, and the two seats at Williams.

What would I like to see? well I think that Toyota should pick up Montoya to give Ralph a kick in the butt. Alonso would do well with a fast challenger, and I think that Rosberg could fill that gap admirably, so that's McLaren sorted. Next up is Renault, I think Kimi may take the number 1 role, and probably have Fisi as his companion. Ferrari? Well Schumi has signed for 2 more year's and I think they will make a place for Rossi if he decides to try the 4 wheel life out, if not Rossi then Massa is doing a good job there. Red Bull, Well we may see DC there for one more year to help bring in the new Newey chassis, but I doubt if Klien will stay, instead of him I think we may see Scott Speed be upgraded to first team duties. Honda will obviously have Button in the main seat, but will Rubens be driving for them next year? that all depends on his season this year. Williams? well it would be a shame if Webber was to not be the team leader, with him I think Trulli may do well in the Grove team.

What other surprises may be lurking? well I think some of the highly regard drivers that are currently on test duties may get decent seats. Anthony Davidson has deserved one for a while now, along with Pedro de la Rossa, Heikki Kovalainen (with him possibly getting a main seat at Renault, as he is Flavio's protege).

So the 2007 season should be a cracker, and I cannot wait to see what happens with the seat shuffle for next year. Then we have 2008 with the new teams, and probably new drivers showing their faces. If the FIA don't mess the rules up too much F1 could go from strength to strength.