Williams will retain its 2008 drivers for 2009 after confirming a contract extension for Kazuki Nakajima as predicted here earlier. With Nico Rosberg’s contract set to run until the end of next year it means the team’s race driver line-up is set.
Driver market articles archive
Driver market
Lucas di Grassi poised to take Renault seat off Nelson Piquet Jnr for 2009
Posted onNew rumours on the 2009 F1 driver market suggest Nelson Piquet Jnr will be dropped by Renault at the end of the year. But Brazilian F1 fans need not despair as Piquet’s countryman Lucas di Grassi is being lined up to replace him. Renault is offering Piquet to Toro Rosso according to Autosport – might … Continue reading Lucas di Grassi poised to take Renault seat off Nelson Piquet Jnr for 2009
2009 F1 drivers: who will be dropped?
Posted onBefore the Italian Grand Prix ITV showed an interview with Sebastien Bourdais. The stress of knowing his F1 drive for 2009 is under threat was plain to see as he started crying at one point. He’s not the only driver who’s place in F1 in 2009 is in doubt: Nelson Piquet Jnr is waiting to … Continue reading 2009 F1 drivers: who will be dropped?
Will Fernando Alonso pick BMW, Honda or stay at Renault in 2009?
Posted onFerrari has confirmed Kimi Raikkonen will drive for the team for at least one more season in 2010. With Felipe Massa contracted for the same duration, the Scuderia will not be looking for any news drivers until 2011 at the earliest. So where does this leave Fernando Alonso? The Renault driver was widely tipped to … Continue reading Will Fernando Alonso pick BMW, Honda or stay at Renault in 2009?
F1 2009 driver rumours: Sato and Sutil
Posted onTwo new rumours surrounding next year’s F1 drivers have emerged. Takuma Sato has been tipped for a comeback and Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella look likely to stay on at Force India for 2009.
2009 F1 driver rumours: Alonso & Senna
Posted onThe rumours about Fernando Alonso joining Honda appear to be gaining strength with some sources suggesting a deal has already been done. And several teams appear to be interested in signing Bruno Senna. Plus, Heikki Kovalainen was confirmed as a McLaren driver last weekend, for at least one more year, on what turned out to … Continue reading 2009 F1 driver rumours: Alonso & Senna
Sebastian Vettel confirmed as Red Bull driver for 2009 – try to look surprised
Posted onSebastian Vettel will take David Coulthard’s place at Red Bull in 2009. Anyone not see that coming? Vettel is one of the stars of Red Bull’s young driver development programme. Dozens of aspiring young drivers have worn Red Bull colours at one stage or another in their careers. Only a handful made it into F1. … Continue reading Sebastian Vettel confirmed as Red Bull driver for 2009 – try to look surprised
Fernando Alonso and Ferrari rumours
Posted onSpeculation that Fernando Alonso could be a Ferrari driver in the future refuses to go away. Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo said in April he was happy with the line-up of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. But now Alonso is being linked with a move to Ferrari where he would be reunited with sponsor Banco … Continue reading Fernando Alonso and Ferrari rumours
If Giorgio Pantano wins the GP2 championship should he get an F1 drive?
Posted onThe GP2 championship has helped several top F1 drivers get into the championship in the three years it’s been running. Every GP2 champion is currently racing in F1: Nico Rosberg (Williams), Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) and Timo Glock (Toyota). Giorgio Pantano is leading the championship at the half-way point. But this year is his seventh in … Continue reading If Giorgio Pantano wins the GP2 championship should he get an F1 drive?
Sebastian Vettel probably at Red Bull in 2009 – so who will be at Toro Rosso?
Posted onAfter announcing his retirement from Formula 1 at the British Grand Prix this weekend, David Coulthard heaped praise on up and coming Toro Rosso driver Sebastian Vettel saying he, “has everything a future F1 winner needs.” Vettel has long been tipped to take Coulthard’s seat at Red Bull. Coulthard’s words of praise probably were a … Continue reading Sebastian Vettel probably at Red Bull in 2009 – so who will be at Toro Rosso?
2009 F1 driver rumours
Posted onAn interesting new rumour about the 2009 F1 driver line-up puts Fernando Alonso at Honda alongside Jenson Button next year. Do you believe it? And what should we make of these other rumours about who goes where in 2009?
How do the new Alonso-Ferrari rumours affect the 2009 F1 driver market?
Posted onFernando Alonso’s prospects of joining Ferrari in the near future appeared to have been killed off earlier this year when Luca di Montezemolo said in public that he did not want Alonso to partner Kimi Raikkonen in the future. But the rumours re-surfaced over the Monaco Grand Prix weekend with sources claiming Alonso had signed … Continue reading How do the new Alonso-Ferrari rumours affect the 2009 F1 driver market?
The Ben Evans column: Piquet, Moto GP, and the star F1 driver of 2009
Posted onOnly a handful of races into the season and already the doom mongers are out for the scalp of Nelson Piquet Jnr The Renault driver’s erratic start to the year is, in some people’s view, enough to cost him his seat should he disappoint again at Monaco. Now, though I have never been the greatest … Continue reading The Ben Evans column: Piquet, Moto GP, and the star F1 driver of 2009
2009 F1 drivers – early predictions
Posted onIt’s early days, but Luca di Montezemolo’s comments last week about Ferrari not needing Fernando Alonso started me thinking about which drivers might be on the move for 2009. On the face of it Montezemolo doesn’t seem to want to change his pairing of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. And after three driver changes in … Continue reading 2009 F1 drivers – early predictions
Renault confirm Alonso and Piquet Jnr for 2008
2008 F1 season
Posted onRenault has confirmed its driver line-up for the 2008 season with Fernando Alonso making a widely-anticipated return to the team.
Ron Dennis doesn’t want a seat filler in 2008
Posted onI’ve read a lot of remarks by people who think that Ron Dennis will just stick any old driver in the second McLaren seat next year. The assumption seems to be that he’s already got Lewis Hamilton and all he needs and wants to do is stick a loyal but not super-quick number two in … Continue reading Ron Dennis doesn’t want a seat filler in 2008
Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jnr at Renault in 2008?
Posted onAs speculation grows over Fernando Alonso’s future, Renault’s Flavio Briatore had this to say about his driver pairing for 2008: Renault will certainly have different drivers next year. Alonso has a 60% chance of coming to us. Alonso moving to Renault has been tipped for some time. His most likely partner there – assuming it … Continue reading Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jnr at Renault in 2008?
Timo Glock finally confirmed at Toyota for 2008
Posted onTimo Glock has been confirmed as Jarno Trulli’s team mate at Toyota in 2008 following a lengthy dispute with BMW. Glock, who won the GP2 championship this year, was BMW’s test driver and the Munich marque became involved in a tug-of-love for Glock’s services with Cologne-based Toyota. The Contracts Recognition Board ruled last week that … Continue reading Timo Glock finally confirmed at Toyota for 2008
2008 testing round-up 1
Posted onThe 2008 winter testing got under way at Barcelona this week as the teams prepared for the first race without traction control since 2001. This was the first of two tests before the break, the second at Jerez next month. Here’s what the teams were all up to.
F1 in the news 58: Everyone’s going green
Posted onIn the F1 news this week a look at F1’s steps towards a green future and the radical plan to freeze engine specifications for a decade. Plus an intriguing new candidate joins the list of drivers vying for Fernando Alonso’s vacant seat at McLaren, Michael Schumacher goes bike racing and the Australian Grand Prix could … Continue reading F1 in the news 58: Everyone’s going green