Silly Season 2011/2012

[snorri788]

Seeing as Massa's seat at Ferrari next year is pretty much open, could we see Schumi going back there in 2013? i think that while the chance of driving for the scuderia is enticing to any driver, you would defiantely play second fiddle to alonso. makes sens to have someone strong like schumacher there as he would not roll over and lie down for fernando.

[bhallg2k]

Seeing as Massa's seat at Ferrari next year is pretty much open, could we see Schumi going back there in 2013?

And I will be appointed as team principal.

[Giblet]

Doubtful. Alonso already proved pretty strongly in 2005 and 2006 that he was more than capable, and he has won the affections of the team around him. It is quite clear that it is a two way love fest between him and the team.

Schumacher used to have the same thing, so there would no be room there for two such good drivers. Schumacher would have to be #2, and he also doesn't have a backer like Santander to help him become a #1.

Its like trying to get back with an ex from your past... looks good on paper maybe, but likely not so good to attempt.

[raymondu999]

FWIW Button apparently was called on to replace Felipe for this year.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Perez at Ferrari is a shoe in.

If you have a mortgage, put it on Sergio being in a Ferrari come 2013.

[raymondu999]

Agreed. I think possibly Ferrari will be framing it to him as he is understudying a proven champion first; so he should step back and enjoy being a number 2 first.

[Pandabeer]

Seeing as Massa's seat at Ferrari next year is pretty much open, could we see Schumi going back there in 2013?

No way there. Schumacher already said that there is no way that he will end his career in a team other then Mercedes. I also dont think that Schumacher will extend his contract if there is no bright spot for Mercedes and the rest of the 2012 saison. Would be a shame because i love see Schumacher racing, but what can we do.

[Shrieker]

Perez talk is all nice and dandy, but what about Kubica ? If what we're seeing on the net is true, he's not miles away from an F1 seat as was the case a few months ago.

[raymondu999]

Kubica to be honest is a bit of an unknown - he's out of practice; and we don't know if his speed and consistency have been affected by his accident somehow.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

+1 Ray,

I really want to see Kubica back in a competitive team, but the extent of his injuries are unknown. Suffice to say they were extremely severe, to the point where total loss of hand control was a possibility.

Compare that to Perez, who is/was part of Ferrari's driver academy and his performances last year in comparison to Kobayashi(a personal favourite of mine), and his run in Malaysia.

Night and day I would say.

I reckon Alonso/Perez for 2013 with Kubica possibly given a run at Sauber should his injuries have been overcome.

[raymondu999]

I don't think Sauber would take on Kubica. Sauber doesn't have a track record of taking on established drivers. They took on Heidi, but that was under BMW, and not under Sauber.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Giancarlo Fisichella, Jean Alesi, Jaques Villenuve and Pedro De la rosa?

I think Sauber's recent trend of signing younger drivers has more to do with budgetary issues rather than ethos.
Besides, I reckon Kubica would drive for nothing(relatively speaking) and bring a load of sponsorship given the opportunity.

[raymondu999]

I amend my statement: if there is the advent of promising young talent; Sauber doesn't have a track record of taking on established drivers.

I don't remember figures of what Kubica used to be paid pre-accident; but I'm pretty sure that he would survive on a living wage. In a way it would be like paying for an opportunity to prove himself again.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

I amend my statement: if there is the advent of promising young talent; Sauber doesn't have a track record of taking on established drivers.

I don't remember figures of what Kubica used to be paid pre-accident; but I'm pretty sure that he would survive on a living wage. In a way it would be like paying for an opportunity to prove himself again.

Well, time will tell. But Kubica is no journeyman, and as you rightly say would drive for a "living wage" to prove he is up to task.

This will not be enough for Ferrari IMO. But if he proves it, Ferrari will have a dilemma for 2014.

[raymondu999]

Who knows? It's called silly season for a reason. We see weird things happen all the time. Maybe he'll replace Karthikeyan