Official 2008 Formula 1 Offseason Thread

legion · 11-03-2008, 12:18 PM

Who's going where?

I would imagine Vettle is a hot item right now.

Any movement at Ferrari?

Will Koveleinen stick around at McLaren?

Who is out of F1 and doesn't know it yet?

Oh...and....what's the deal with Toro Rosso again?

fumanchu · 11-03-2008, 12:37 PM

Kimi and Massa are in at Ferrari. Both have contracts. The real ?mark is Alonso.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Where would Alonso go? Certainly not back to McLaren. Renault seems to finally be getting the car sorted. Vettel is supposedly going to the Red Bull "varsity" team, but I think he could do better. I would think that he could get #2 at McLaren, but not sure if Dennis wants to have that kind of young rivalry.

legion · 11-03-2008, 12:46 PM

I think Kovaleinen did a great job at McLaren this year and wouldn't mind seeing him put into #1 position next year. Of course that's hard to do unless Hamilton pulls a Kimi next year.

Anyway, I'd hate to see Heiki pull a Baricello.

Seric · 03:27 PM

Bourdais is yet to sign a contract with Torro Rosso, even though he did really well towards the end of the season, I hope he gets a renewal.

Vettel is going to Red Bull.

Kovalainen will never likely be #1 at McLaren, at least while Hamilton and Ron Dennis are there. And RD still insists that there isn't favortism at McLaren. I think he's trying to do what Ferrari was so successful at during 2000-2005. Heikke deserves better, no doubt.

I think it will be important for the major teams to retain their current configuration, since the major changes to the cars next year will involve major effort from everyone in the garage. They realize the value of having drivers there that have spent at least a season in their chassis and working with the team.

There is some chatter that Rosberg missed his boat to be a WDC, but I still think he has a long long way to go and I hope he can move to a more competative team in the future. But who knows, perhaps Williams will leap ahead and be fighting for the best of the rest.

serge944 · serge944's Garage

Alonso was the surprise of the season for me. After an -awful- first half of the season, he really made a come back!

The closure of last season was a lot more exciting when all the moons had to perfectly align for Kimi to take the title - and they did! What brilliant final three races those were!!

Seric · 11-03-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serge944

The closure of last season was a lot more exciting when all the moons had to perfectly align for Kimi to take the title - and they did! What brilliant final three races those were!!

Ugh amen! I was waiting for that Anvil to drop out of the sky 100 yards from the finish line in Brazil.

Alonso has really grown on me, but he can still be a little whiner :P

lfot · lfot's Garage

The last I heard, Alonso has a contract to stay with Renault if they place 4th or higher in the Constructor standings. They placed 4th, so unless someone knows something I don't, Alonso is staying where he is.

Besides, the development of the Renault chassis over the season was really incredible. They became real contenders by the last few races. Why would he really want to go anywhere else? Ferrari isn't an option for him at this point.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

What was amazing were Matchett's comments that McLaren found 2.5 seconds in the car over the course of the season. And even more shocking was the amount of money that the last 0.15 seconds cost

Zeke · 11-03-2008, 01:45 PM

I'd like to see Bourdais in a better car. He might have something for the field. Seems to me that a lot of drivers start out in poor cars, move up and have some good years and then back to the poor cars before retirement. Barachello and Coultard come to mind. Schumi was an exception as was Senna. But, they both had early lean years, just not as many. I hope Bourdais time isn't wasted. After all, he did spend some of his early years here in Champ car. He doesn't have forever.

If they would move Button, Fichecella (sp?) and a couple others out of the way, we could see some good racing. That is if the new rules put the cars back on slicks with much less down force. They should have to drive them, not pilot them.

TheMentat · TheMentat's Garage

I'd like to see Rosberg alongside Alonso... Piquet is a total hump!

MFAFF · 11-03-2008, 09:23 PM

Only two teams have yet to 'formally' announce thier driver line up...
Renault (its due tomorrow; Wednesday)
and Honda, although it is known that Button does have a confirmed contract for next year.

So it looks as if we may lose Reubens... but retain Trulli and Fisi from the older journeymen generation.

As for Hammi leaving McLaren unless the team lose the edge (which have done in the past) then there is little to encourage him to leave. Ferrari are on the gentle slope downwards.. no KERS tested yet.. and neither Kimi or Massa are top flight development drivers.

FA is the best development driver (and pretty handy racer) at the moment along with Pedro del la Rosa at McLaren and I would expect both Renault and McLaren to be making good progress.

ALso never under estimate Ross Brawn..he stopped all development on the 2008 car at the beginning of the season to concentrate on the 2009 car...with his record of developing decent race cars and Honda's finances and expertise the cars should be good. JB may not be the best driver out there but he has shown he can do the job.. if he were supported by soembody who would push him then the team might be there...

Toyota are as ever a bit of a joker....the biggest budget and drivers who are not top flight....what are they thinking...

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

SO what I'm wondering is whether or not Ferrari will drop significantly next year. How much of their success this year is due to the residual work/influence of Brawn? Could it be that next year will be McLaren vs. Renault with BMW, Red Bull (Vettel) and Honda nipping at their heels and Ferrari somewhat floundering?

MFAFF · 11-03-2008, 10:53 PM

Ferrari won't drop by much.. but enough to make them part of the pack rather then consistent leaders.

I think that the fact they have not yet tested their KERS system (that they will admit to) is part gamesmanship and part fact. Certainly since Ross and Rory (Bruyne) have left they are not as innovative and as far ahead of game as before....

I think that the loss of MS will be felt even more strongly this coming year as his input will again take a step down...

BMW and Honda have sacrificed performance this year in favour of next.. so one expects much from them initially...Renault... who knows. They are a smaller outfit and may have invested much this year to keep FA on board and so be a tad behind... McLaren... again its a moot point, they have done wonders this year to improve the car.. but even with thier resources have they invested sufficiently in next years to be the leaders from the off.. there is no doubt they will be able to develop the car, its a question of when they do lead the pack...there have been a few blips in the recent past....

I think Red Bull will actually be the car to watch... Adrian Newey design. Ferrari engine and Vettel....potentially a very fast combo... Vettel has shown he can develop the car... and has the ability to race it as well as drive it very fast...

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFAFF

I think Red Bull will actually be the car to watch... Adrian Newey design. Ferrari engine and Vettel....potentially a very fast combo... Vettel has shown he can develop the car... and has the ability to race it as well as drive it very fast...

The Red Bull has a Renault engine. The Torro Rosso is running the Ferrari engine. Unless they are switching that for 2009.

lfot · lfot's Garage

I heard something about Red Bull switching to a Mercedes drive train. Anyone know anything about this?

MFAFF · 11-03-2008, 11:16 PM

There are a couple of strong rumours about a Red Bull switch...one to Ferrari (Renault to Torro Rosso) and one about Illmor (Mercedes ) engines...

I think it will depend on which KERS is more advanced and working during the off season.

Not certain how Mercedes would react to competing with another chassis...

LeRoux Strydom · 11-04-2008, 05:04 AM

McLaren and Mercedes are not on the best speaking terms. AFAIK the engine supply contract has not been renewed as of yet.

MFAFF · 11-04-2008, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeRoux Strydom

McLaren and Mercedes are not on the best speaking terms. AFAIK the engine supply contract has not been renewed as of yet.

Errr.....as Mercedes own part of McLaren for the precise reason of being partially in control of the chassis their engine goes in it would be very surprising if Mercedes were to supply another team rather than McLaren.. would it not?

They purchased Illmor after their performance dipped following Paul Morgan's death to 'protect' the Mercedes image...so if McLaren were to dip too far I would not be surprised to see Merc taking a larger holding....certainly they have a far greater stake in F1 now that BMW run a branded team and they are 'beating' BMW..

LeRoux Strydom · 11-04-2008, 06:36 AM

It is already well known that the new McLaren SLR replacement will not have a Mercedes engine, and some media speculation says the same about the F1 car:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/report-mercedes-refuses-to-supply-engine-for-new-mclaren-supercar.html

Quote:

With the relationship that produced the SLR supercar ended, Mercedes-Benz and U.K.-based McLaren have gone their separate ways. But like a bitterly divorced couple, the partners-turned-competitors are said to be developing quite the rivalry. Although Daimler AG owns a large stake in McLaren, Mercedes-Benz is reportedly refusing to supply the British carmaker with engines for its successor to the McLaren F1.

Mercedes is also threatening to cease its financial backing of McLaren, according to a report by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. Although Daimler previously considered a buyout of McLaren, one must now wonder if the German auto giant is considering dumping its shares altogether.

The root of this newfound rivalry lies in the world of ultra-exclusive supercars. Mercedes is hard at work on its SLC über-coupe, and McLaren is in the early stages of developing its P11 — a successor to the famed F1.

If McLaren was banking on Mercedes providing the engine for the P11 (and ultra-performance P12 variant), the car could see some significant delays, unless another supplier is found soon. Rumors indicate the P11 was supposed to receive an AMG-sourced 6.3-liter V8 making 550 horsepower.