The 'silly season' steps up to another level during the summer break. With the teams yet to confirm their line-ups edging closer to doing so, below follows a guide as to what the grid might look like at the beginning of next year.
Red Bull
Vettel / TBC
The five-year partnership of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will come to an end next season, as the Australian makes the switch to the World Endurance Championship with Porsche. Although a handful of names have been thrown into the hat, the race for the seat looks to be between Kimi Räikkönen and Daniel Ricciardo. Who will get the nod? We’re due to find out by Monza…
Ferrari
Alonso / TBC
Fernando Alonso may have been dragged into the Red Bull equation following the Hungarian Grand Prix, but it would be a massive surprise to see him depart the Scuderia. The Spaniard, who would need to break his contract, has made Maranello his home and is desperate to bring the team title success. On the other side of the garage, it is a slightly different matter. In his own words, Felipe Massa needs to improve during the second half of the season, with Nico Hülkenberg, Paul di Resta and Jules Bianchi all mooted as potential replacements.
McLaren
Button / Pérez
With Jenson Button and Sergio Pérez tied to agreements, McLaren’s 2014 line-up will not feature any changes. The former World Champion signed an extension to his original contract back in 2011, with annual options that could take him through 2015. Meanwhile, his young Mexican team-mate joined from Sauber on a "multi-year" deal at the end of last season.
Lotus
TBC / TBC
If the 2014 grid was a jigsaw puzzle, Lotus holds one of the biggest pieces. Kimi Räikkönen has always been a main candidate to replace Webber at Red Bull, while his current employers are determined to retain his services – albeit restricted by financial problems. Now it is up to the straight-talking Finn to decide. If he moves, Hülkenberg has been tipped to take the seat, depending on what happens at Ferrari. In terms of Romain Grosjean’s future at the team, it should be safe providing he can find the speed he displayed in Hungary on a consistent basis.
Mercedes
Hamilton / Rosberg
Another team with a negotiation-free end to the season is Mercedes. Nico Rosberg’s latest contract extension, signed in 2011, brings him through the 2013 campaign "and beyond", while latest recruit Lewis Hamilton left long-term employers McLaren in favour of a three-year deal with the Silver Arrows.
Sauber
TBC / TBC
There is growing potential for an all-new Sauber line-up in 2014. With Hülkenberg’s salary reportedly unpaid since the early stages of the season and the C32 underperforming, the German is likely to be chasing opportunities with frontrunning teams. This could allow a driver such as Bianchi to move up the grid, given his and the team's links with Ferrari. In terms of the second seat, Esteban Gutiérrez is under threat due to the recent tripartite deal with Russian investors, which includes fast-tracking Formula Renault 3.5 racer Sergey Sirotkin to the top echelon. This will also hinder the chances of reserve driver Robin Frijns making the step up.
Force India
TBC / TBC
Paul di Resta has eyed a leading drive for the past one and a half seasons, but the Scot does not appear to be a main candidate for any possible vacancies. This most likely means another term at Force India, the fourth of his Formula 1 career to date. Returning team-mate Adrian Sutil has impressed and will surely remain onboard if no unforeseen issues arise.
Williams
TBC / TBC
Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas could not have done a huge amount more with the below-par FW35. Both have dragged the car beyond its capabilities, highlighted by Bottas’s second row grid slot in Canada and Maldonado’s top ten finish in Hungary. It is hard to see Williams pointing the blame at its drivers, so another year of the same would be a fair call from the Grove-based outfit.
Toro Rosso
TBC / TBC
Next year’s Toro Rosso line-up relies upon the long-awaited decision from Red Bull. As previously mentioned, Ricciardo is up against Räikkönen for the coveted vacancy, with confirmation looming. Should the Australian graduate, it leaves the door open for António Félix da Costa to join Jean-Éric Vergne. If the decision goes the other way, a third year with the ‘B team’ appears to lie ahead.
Caterham
Pic / TBC
Caterham approaches the final nine races with half its 2014 driver line-up confirmed. Charles Pic switched from Marussia on a long-term deal at the end of last year, his French heritage tying in well with the outfit's Renault partnership. As for Giedo van der Garde, negotiations over a 2014 seat have not yet begun. If change is desired, Heikki Kovalainen – who has helped with car development this year – and academy driver Alexander Rossi are waiting in the wings.
Marussia
TBC / TBC
A second campaign with Marussia would be a positive outcome for Bianchi, who has shown plenty of promise during the first ten races of his Formula 1 journey. If opportunities are scarce at the more established teams, both parties have long stated that they wish to remain together. For Max Chilton, the situation is a little more challenging. Dubbed the 'survival seat' since the team joined the sport in 2010, no driver has retained the number two spot for more than a season. If he does leave, it's anybody's guess as to who will step in.
Red Bull
Vettel / TBC
The five-year partnership of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will come to an end next season, as the Australian makes the switch to the World Endurance Championship with Porsche. Although a handful of names have been thrown into the hat, the race for the seat looks to be between Kimi Räikkönen and Daniel Ricciardo. Who will get the nod? We’re due to find out by Monza…
Ferrari
Alonso / TBC
Fernando Alonso may have been dragged into the Red Bull equation following the Hungarian Grand Prix, but it would be a massive surprise to see him depart the Scuderia. The Spaniard, who would need to break his contract, has made Maranello his home and is desperate to bring the team title success. On the other side of the garage, it is a slightly different matter. In his own words, Felipe Massa needs to improve during the second half of the season, with Nico Hülkenberg, Paul di Resta and Jules Bianchi all mooted as potential replacements.
McLaren
Button / Pérez
With Jenson Button and Sergio Pérez tied to agreements, McLaren’s 2014 line-up will not feature any changes. The former World Champion signed an extension to his original contract back in 2011, with annual options that could take him through 2015. Meanwhile, his young Mexican team-mate joined from Sauber on a "multi-year" deal at the end of last season.
Lotus
TBC / TBC
If the 2014 grid was a jigsaw puzzle, Lotus holds one of the biggest pieces. Kimi Räikkönen has always been a main candidate to replace Webber at Red Bull, while his current employers are determined to retain his services – albeit restricted by financial problems. Now it is up to the straight-talking Finn to decide. If he moves, Hülkenberg has been tipped to take the seat, depending on what happens at Ferrari. In terms of Romain Grosjean’s future at the team, it should be safe providing he can find the speed he displayed in Hungary on a consistent basis.
Mercedes
Hamilton / Rosberg
Another team with a negotiation-free end to the season is Mercedes. Nico Rosberg’s latest contract extension, signed in 2011, brings him through the 2013 campaign "and beyond", while latest recruit Lewis Hamilton left long-term employers McLaren in favour of a three-year deal with the Silver Arrows.
Sauber
TBC / TBC
There is growing potential for an all-new Sauber line-up in 2014. With Hülkenberg’s salary reportedly unpaid since the early stages of the season and the C32 underperforming, the German is likely to be chasing opportunities with frontrunning teams. This could allow a driver such as Bianchi to move up the grid, given his and the team's links with Ferrari. In terms of the second seat, Esteban Gutiérrez is under threat due to the recent tripartite deal with Russian investors, which includes fast-tracking Formula Renault 3.5 racer Sergey Sirotkin to the top echelon. This will also hinder the chances of reserve driver Robin Frijns making the step up.
Force India
TBC / TBC
Paul di Resta has eyed a leading drive for the past one and a half seasons, but the Scot does not appear to be a main candidate for any possible vacancies. This most likely means another term at Force India, the fourth of his Formula 1 career to date. Returning team-mate Adrian Sutil has impressed and will surely remain onboard if no unforeseen issues arise.
Williams
TBC / TBC
Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas could not have done a huge amount more with the below-par FW35. Both have dragged the car beyond its capabilities, highlighted by Bottas’s second row grid slot in Canada and Maldonado’s top ten finish in Hungary. It is hard to see Williams pointing the blame at its drivers, so another year of the same would be a fair call from the Grove-based outfit.
Toro Rosso
TBC / TBC
Next year’s Toro Rosso line-up relies upon the long-awaited decision from Red Bull. As previously mentioned, Ricciardo is up against Räikkönen for the coveted vacancy, with confirmation looming. Should the Australian graduate, it leaves the door open for António Félix da Costa to join Jean-Éric Vergne. If the decision goes the other way, a third year with the ‘B team’ appears to lie ahead.
Caterham
Pic / TBC
Caterham approaches the final nine races with half its 2014 driver line-up confirmed. Charles Pic switched from Marussia on a long-term deal at the end of last year, his French heritage tying in well with the outfit's Renault partnership. As for Giedo van der Garde, negotiations over a 2014 seat have not yet begun. If change is desired, Heikki Kovalainen – who has helped with car development this year – and academy driver Alexander Rossi are waiting in the wings.
Marussia
TBC / TBC
A second campaign with Marussia would be a positive outcome for Bianchi, who has shown plenty of promise during the first ten races of his Formula 1 journey. If opportunities are scarce at the more established teams, both parties have long stated that they wish to remain together. For Max Chilton, the situation is a little more challenging. Dubbed the 'survival seat' since the team joined the sport in 2010, no driver has retained the number two spot for more than a season. If he does leave, it's anybody's guess as to who will step in.
No comments:
Post a Comment