Formula 1 2010 [DISCUSSION ONLY]

[Chrizzzie]

Maybe a little bit early but I already wanted to kick off the 2010 thread. Slowly on the seets for next year start to fill. We can discuss all the latest rumors, testing, announcements, car launches etc.. I'll also keep the current line-up for 2010 up to date in this post.

The following teams and drivers will compete the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship:

Campos Meta Team
Cosworth
Bruno Senna
TBA

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
Ferrari
Fernando Alonso
Felipe Massa

Force India F1 Team
Mercedes
Adrian Sutil
Vitantonio Liuzzi

Lotus F1 Team
Cosworth
Jarno Truli
Heikki Kovalainen

Virgin Racing
Cosworth
Timo Glock
Lucas di Grassi

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
Mercedes
Jenson Button
Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team
Mercedes
Nico Rosberg
Michael Schumacher

Red Bull Racing
Renault
Sebastian Vettel
Mark Webber

Renault F1 Team
Renault
Robert Kubica
Vitaly Petrov

Scuderia Toro Rosso
TBA
Sébastien Buemi
Jaime Alguersuari

Team US F1
Cosworth
TBA (Villeneuve ???)
Jose Maria Lopez

AT&T Williams
Cosworth
Rubens Barrichello
Nico Hülkenberg

Team Sauber F1
Ferrari
Pedro de la Rosa
Kamui Kobayashi

[Kobe_Bryant_24]

this season my dude is driving....bruno senna!! you guys now im a big fan of ayrton senna and love him to death!!

i hope bruno will have a good first year in a surely horrible team. lets see. and hes driving without any money...
good luck to my second fav and hopefully nico rosberg will drive for mercedes next year. these two are my heroes in the formula one of today and the two i cross my fingers for...

hopefully it will be a good season with no refueling...cant wait

[Kobe_Bryant_24]

wow hamilton and button driving for mclaren next year. you british guys must be very proud...good luck

[me067]

great news!!! its going to be a good season.. BBC Sport - F1 : Button joins Hamilton at McLaren

[Chrizzzie]

And most likely two Germans at Mercedes. SO battle of the Brits versus the Germans

I'm also suspecting BMW knowing of Mercedes there intentions and maybe that might have influenced BMW's decision to withdraw. I'm not sure if BMW would prefer a head to head contest with Mercedes.

[Chrizzzie]

Actually I do like the concept of Mercedes Grandprix returning to F1 after 55 years. Would be even more fun if Mclaren change their name to Auto Union and Ferrari to Maserati

[Kobe_Bryant_24]

hahahaha yeah that would be great tradition for life

[Ben2710]

Taking my thread ehh lol

Yea Hamilton and Button will be unstoppable!!! Britain Get in!

[Chrizzzie]

Taking my thread ehh lol

It's your turn again next year

[Chrizzzie]

Confirmed: Rosberg to Mercedes for 2010
23 November 2009


As expected, Mercedes has announced that Germany's Nico Rosberg will be spearheading its 2010 line-up as the Stuttgart manufacturer prepares to return to Formula 1 for the first time since 1955. Following a press conference in Germany on Monday afternoon, the team-mate to the former Williams driver is yet to be revealed.



With the Champion Brawn team having been bought by Mercedes-Benz, at least one German driver was always expected in the line-up of 2010, with Rosberg's confirmation on Monday effectively acting as a swap with new Williams driver Rubens Barrichello.




Rosberg set the fastest lap in his first race, Bahrain 2006
"I am really happy to be a part of the Silver Arrows re-launch in 2010 as a driver for Mercedes," commented the 24-year-old son of 1982 World Champion Keke. "No other brand in Formula 1 can look back on such a long and successful tradition in motor racing.

"I am very proud that I will now drive for the new Mercedes team and work with Ross Brawn (Team Principal). I am more motivated than ever and can hardly wait to start testing with the new Silver Arrow and for the first race of the new season in Bahrain."

[Chrizzzie]

Force India confirms Sutil and Liuzzi
27 November 2009


Force India has revealed that Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi will be remaining with the Silverstone outfit for the 2010 season. The news marks what will be the German's fourth straight season in Formula 1 and the full-time return of the Italian, after racing with Toro Rosso in 2007.





26-year-old Sutil has been with the team since its first race in Australia last year
Although the Silverstone-based team started it season with Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella this year, Liuzzi moved up from the reserve position in order to deputise as his compatriot transferred to Ferrari. After scoring its first pole position, World Championship points and a podium in 2009, Vijay Mallya hopes for more in 2010.

"We are very pleased to retain the services of both Adrian and Tonio for another season," the team co-owner said. "We have always maintained that consistency is key at this stage in the team's development and for the first time in many years we will have the continuity of, not only the same drivers, but also the same engine and senior management."




Liuzzi took the reigns from Fisichella for Monza
"2010 will be my fourth consecutive year with the team," commented Sutil. "I feel good here, it feels like family, and when you feel at ease you can focus your energy 100% on getting it right on track. Next season I want to be in the points on a regular basis, maybe even challenging for the podium, and the team has exactly the same goals. We are going massively in the right direction so with our combined energies I'm confident we can achieve even more than last season."

For Liuzzi, the confirmation is a relief as well as a proud moment. "It was always my goal to be back racing in 2010 and I've finally achieved it," he explained. "I feel the five races I did in 2009 were a bit of a warm-up; get back racing, learn the car, get the feeling back. Now I've done that I feel ready to really push next season. We were pretty strong in the last part of the 2009 season so if we pick up where we stopped I think we could be in for a good year. For sure, points are the aim, and showing everyone what we can do."

[Chrizzzie]

Lotus signs Trulli and Kovalainen
14 December 2009

Lotus has confirmed that Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen will be making up its driver line-up as the famous team name returns to Formula 1 next season. The duo, each with a single race win to their name, will be joined by Malaysian Fairuz Fauzy who steps in as test and reserve driver.

Tony Fernandes, Team Principal of Lotus F1
Tony Fernandes, Team Principal of Lotus F1

At Monday's official announcement in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak revealed the Lotus F1 team's drivers.

Speaking at the launch, team owner and Principal Tony Fernandes said: "I am thrilled that we have been able to sign Jarno, Heikki and Fairuz to drive for Lotus F1 Racing in our debut season. It is a testament to the quality of our team, to our ambition and drive and, above all, to our long-term vision of success in Formula 1.

"Jarno and Heikki are winners, have proven track records in Formula 1 and will be a big asset to us as we look to develop the team and the car throughout 2010; they are two extremely versatile drivers who have proven themselves more than capable of achieving solid results, no matter how tough the conditions.

Fauzy was runner-up in this year's World Series by Renault
Fauzy was runner-up in this year's World Series by Renault

"Having Fairuz on-board is also great news. He is undoubtedly the best Malaysian senior driver at the moment and it is a pleasure to welcome him into Malaysia's Formula 1 team.

"We only secured our 2010 entry from the FIA in September and already we have our first car in production and have signed two Formula 1 race winners to drive for us, as well as a home-grown Malaysian driver - not bad for three months' hard work! There is more to come from us and we head into the holiday period buoyed by what we have accomplished already but inspired to push the boundaries yet further."

[Chrizzzie]

Schumacher close to Mercedes deal?
12 December 2009

Reports of Michael Schumacher making a Formula 1 comeback continue to strengthen in Germany this weekend, with the 7-time World Champion now believed to have a verbal deal in place to race with the Brackley-based Mercedes team next year.

Although Schumacher renewed his Ferrari contract as a supervisor for the team as recently as in September, it is thought that the German is now in negotiations to bring an end to what had been established as a 3-year deal at Maranello.

Current reports from Bild state that the 40-year-old, who will have celebrated his next birthday by the time the new season begins in March, is now only a signature away from signing a 1-year deal as Nico Rosberg's team-mate, which would also see him reunited with Team Principal Ross Brawn following ten seasons together at Ferrari between 1997 and 2006.

[Chrizzzie]

Virgin confirms di Grassi for 2010
15 December 2009

Virgin Racing has revealed that Lucas di Grassi will be partnering Timo Glock as the team prepares for its first season of Formula 1 next year. With the German having been confirmed at the team just under a month ago, the arrival of the Brazilian signals a move from Renault after spending six years with the French marque.

With Manor GP having become Virgin Racing, the official relabeling of the Sheffield team came on Tuesday, with a presentation being held in London's Notting Hill.

Part of Renault's young driver programme since 2004, di Grassi raced to third overall with Manor in the 2005 F3 Euroseries and the 25-year-old Brazilian has since finished in the top three of the last three years' GP2 championships. He was promoted to the role of Renault reserve driver this season as Romain Grosjean moved up to the race team following the sudden departure of Nelson Piquet Jr.

'I want to thank everyone who helped me, especially my family,' di Grassi wrote on his personal Twitter account.

[Chrizzzie]

Kobayashi signs with Sauber
17 December 2009

Ex Toyota driver Kamui Kobayashi has been confirmed as a Sauber driver ahead of the 2010 season. The signing marks the first full-time drive in Formula 1 for the Japanese driver and the first for the Hinwil team since it was bought back from BMW by former owner Peter Sauber.

Kobayashi scored points in only his second Formula 1 race
Kobayashi scored points in only his second Formula 1 race

With both himself and compatriot Takuma Sato on the list of possible drivers for next season, the confirmation of Kobayashi confirms that Japan will have at least one contender in the field. Following his impressive debut in Brazil, which saw him pick up ninth place, Kobayashi scored his first World Championship points with sixth in Abu Dhabi.

Following his eyebrow-raising results at Interlagos and Yas Marina, a Toyota 2010 drive looked certain for 23-year-old Kamui until the manufacturer withdrew its Formula 1 team only three days after the season's final race.

Peter Sauber, Team Principal of Sauber
Peter Sauber, Team Principal of Sauber

"Ever since the start of my career, I have dreamed of racing in Formula 1," said Hyogo's Kobayashi, GP2 Asia Series Champion of 2008-2009. "Now this dream has come true. I am very happy that my two races of 2009 have earned me a cockpit place. I will do my very best for Peter Sauber's team and I am proud to be able to carry on flying the Japanese flag in Formula 1."

"I'm very much looking forward to working together with Kamui," added Team Principal Peter Sauber. "In the final two Grands Prix of last season he was granted an unexpected chance to show his skills and he made impressive use of it - particularly in the Abu Dhabi race, he demonstrated not only that he can drive fast and aggressively but also his ability to successfully implement a strategy. I am convinced he has a great deal of potential and will be able to make the most of it in our team."

[Boothinator]

Bye Bye Ferrari! Schumi has quit his contract with Ferrari and will prolly drive for Mercedes!!!

[me067]

Confirmed

BBC Sport - F1 - Michael Schumacher signs up for F1 return with Mercedes

Seven-times Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher will come out of retirement to race for Mercedes next year, BBC Sport understands.

The German, who will be 41 on 3 January, has signed a contract and the deal will be announced imminently.

Schumacher will partner compatriot Nico Rosberg in the team that won the drivers' and constructors' titles in 2009 in its former guise as Brawn.

[Chrizzzie]

Still not officially announced. German magazin Bild has announced this but no official confirmation from either Schumacher or Mercedes yet.

But I do reckon it won't take long.

[me067]

it's going to be a great season

[Ben2710]

Good to see him back in the racing, even though i don't really like him.