2010 Formula One Thread

[RaceTripper]

Kicking off a new silly season. Whither Button, Kimi, Sauber, ...

 

[benlangdon]

ya well this threads not a virgin anymore .

 

[vendettabass]

Lotus FAW

(Lotus for a win)

 

[RaceTripper]

Lotus signed it's first driver and the rumors are saying it's Jarno Trulli. That doesn't mean they'll see the grid. All the new teams still need to deal with getting enough sponsorship money, and if Brawn is having problems with that it doesn't bode well for the newcomers.

 

[edesignuk]

Mercedes take ownership of Brawn

German car giant Mercedes has bought the Brawn Formula 1 team in a move that is likely to see Jenson Button join McLaren as Lewis Hamilton's team-mate.

Mercedes will buy a controlling interest in Brawn, believed to be 75% but is expected to continue as McLaren's engine supplier.

Brawn, who won both world titles in their debut season in 2009, will be rebranded as the Mercedes GP team.

Nico Rosberg will be their lead driver, with Nick Heidfeld his likely partner.

Neither driver has yet been confirmed, but Rosberg, who drove for Williams in 2009 is widely known throughout F1 to have already signed for Brawn.

Button, who won the drivers' title this year, has been trying to secure a pay-rise from his £3.5m salary but it seems Mercedes is not interested in keeping him on.

He and his manager Richard Goddard visited McLaren on Friday and Button is now expected to join McLaren for a salary around double what Brawn were offering.

Button's decision is understood not to be solely about money - sources say he considers McLaren might have a more competitive car than Brawn in 2010.

Mercedes Sports boss Norbert Haug said on Sunday that he was trying to secure a drive for Heidfeld, a former Mercedes protege who has driven for BMW since 2006.

"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."

It is believed Ross Brawn will stay on as team principal.

BBC.

 

[CarlisleUnited]

What engine does the Brawn use at the moment? Also I heard McClaren will no longer be supplied by mercedes...

 

[edesignuk]

^ I thought they were using Mercedes...

edit: Yup - Mercedes-Benz FO 108W

 

[Superman07]

That's crazy - just saw the news myself! Good news for the sport I think since Toyota and BMW pulled out.

Apparently Mercedes will sell back their stake to McLaren over the next 2 years, but will continue to supply engines through 2015.

 

[CWallace]

I would not treat it as Gospel Truth, but The Guardian is reporting that JB has signed with McLaren for GBP6 million a year for three years.

 

[robbieduncan]

Timo Glock will be leading the Manor F1 team.

 

[robbieduncan]

Schumacher to Mercedes GP?

 

[iGav]

Schumacher to Mercedes GP?

I told my brother to stick £50 on Schumacher signing for Brawn GP for the 2010 season OMB after his aborted comeback in August, with absolutely stupendous odds.

 

[Superman07]

Looks like Kimi won't be driving next season!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80187

As much as I admire what Brawn GP accomplished last year I'm starting to hope they don't do well next year. It seems like this buy-out is helping drive away the talent. Granted Rubens left right after the last race, but it seems like this deal really pushed Jensen out right into the McLaren spot.

 

[robbieduncan]

Looks like Kimi won't be driving next season!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80187

Seems he's going rallying instead. To be fair he only really turned up for, at best, 1/2 this season. I'd certainly not pay the amount he was asking on the off-chance he was on form for a whole season.

 

[Superman07]

Button to McLaren official.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80197

 

[robbieduncan]

Renault need 30M Euro to continue. Could be bad news for Red Bull if they don't get their engines...

 

[brisbaneguy29]

Renault need 30M Euro to continue. Could be bad news for Red Bull if they don't get their engines...

Red Bull are going to Mercedes engines next year anyway. They were dumping Renault.

 

[robbieduncan]

Red Bull are going to Mercedes engines next year anyway. They were dumping Renault.

It was considered but they officially announced they are sticking with Renault.

Edit to add: One of many web pages providing evidence for this.

 

[brisbaneguy29]

It was considered but they officially announced they are sticking with Renault.

Edit to add: One of many web pages providing evidence for this.

Ok missed that one. My bad

 

[SOLLERBOY]

I can't believe Jenson Button has gone to the dark side!

 

[Don't panic]

IMO button is making a mistake.

in other rumors, brazilian media claim raikkonen to mercedes is a done deal, even if other sources place him in a rally car for next year.


in any case, it will be an interesting year.

 

[bartelby]

To be fair he only really turned up for, at best, 1/2 this season.

the ice-cream...

 

[thegoldenmackid]

Like the rendering, even if they don't have anyone to drive:

 

[CWallace]

Red Bull are going to Mercedes engines next year anyway. They were dumping Renault.

They wanted to go to Mercedes, but McLaren invoked their veto right and put the kebosh on it.

Too bad Renault could not wait a few weeks for Mercedes to buy Brawn, as I expect that "veto right" is no longer available to McLaren as a basic engine customer.

 

[pachyderm]

Lotus signed it's first driver and the rumors are saying it's Jarno Trulli. That doesn't mean they'll see the grid. All the new teams still need to deal with getting enough sponsorship money, and if Brawn is having problems with that it doesn't bode well for the newcomers.