[gtonsing]

Slightly Offtopic but still relevant in my opinion. Is there any news that we are getting back Buddh or India in the GP circuit? Really want to see India in the calendar - 2015 calendar obviously does not have India. I feel very sad we have a great circuit and not able to host a F1 race.

[Fullrevs]

Lets hope under the new government things like hosting F1 races will be a lot more easier for the track organizers. The taxation structure we follow where each team would be taxed seperately is just one of the major problems the organizers face.

[zenren]

Sauber confirms Felipe Nasr as the second driver along with Marcus Ericsson for 2015 season.

That means both the existing drivers are shown the door. Not surprising when you think about it, since they are still behind Marussia in the standings. They can't blame the Ferrari unit for this either since Marussia also has the same engine.

So the current drivers without a drive for next year is growing:

Jean Eric Vergne
Adrian Sutil
Esteban Gutierrez
Jenson Button
Kamui Kobayashi

Who else?

Originally Posted by Fullrevs

It looks like Adrian Sutil will be shown the door. He has been pretty lackluster this year (bar the qualifying performance this last weekend). Erikson and Esteban will bring in sponsorship money which Sauber desperately needs.

Looks like Brazilians made a better offer than the Mexicans.

[anachronix]

Finally the good Felipe gets a seat in F1. Remember, he rejected an offer to join Redbull's young driver program and now is currently getting on track to where he belongs. Hope Sauber will have a good car next year!

[Fullrevs]

I have read a lot of good things about Felipe Nasr. He beat Magnussen in the 2011 British F3 championship. Should be a exciting pairing at Sauber.

Nasr also bring in Banco Brazil sponsorship to the Sauber team. That should definitely help them set-up on the grid next year. With Nasr should come more Brazilian sponsorship as well.

[polopm]

An interesting and plausible read:

http://en.espnf1.com/blogs/motorsport/story/182717.html

Is Fernando headed to Williams ??

[zenren]

Originally Posted by polopm

An interesting and plausible read:

http://en.espnf1.com/blogs/motorsport/story/182717.html

Is Fernando headed to Williams ??

I thought both the current Williams drivers have contracts into the next season. Is that not the case?

Williams is not a cash-rich team like Ferrari or Red Bull or Mercedes who can pay whatever it takes to grab an opportunity. They may not be struggling like some other teams on the grid but that doesn't mean they can afford a payout for early termination of contract of one of their existing drivers and then pay a huge salary to Alonso. I don't think Alonso would be willing to work for peanuts even in a Mercedes, let alone a Williams.

[Fullrevs]

Read news that Eric Boullier has given Alonso a deadline till the weekend of the Abu Dhabi GP to confirm. Alonso says he feels no pressure to confirm by then. I think with time his mind is increasingly telling him to stay in Ferrari and go for that Mercedes seat whenever it is available.

During last weekends GP, Vettel categorically said that he was not allowed to test for his team at Abu Dhabi the weekend following the GP due to contract obligations with Red Bull. So it seems that Vettel has signed a contract, and most likely with Ferrari. Alonso is holding his cards close to his chest. What if he decides against moving? Will Ferrari just tell him to leave?

Does that mean Kimi will be shown the door? Mattiaci recently stating that the Finn is under pressure to perform but it is "positive pressure" (whatever that means). Or Ferrari will have three cars!

On another note, Sutil had a confirmed contract with sauber for next year but they have just signed Nasr and Erickson. There will be some issues there surely.

It all seems to chaotic in F1 at the moment.

[sajands]

Originally Posted by Fullrevs

Does that mean Kimi will be shown the door? Mattiaci recently stating that the Finn is under pressure to perform but it is "positive pressure" (whatever that means). Or Ferrari will have three cars!

Kimi looks positive with his decision to come back to Ferrari and say's he is commited and will stay with Ferrari.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227...ari-to-recover

http://www.formula1.com/news/intervi.../11/16589.html

Look's like things will turn towards kimi next season if Alonso decides to leave.

-Sajan

[deetjohn]

Really glad with Felipe Nasr joining the grid. He will bring both talent and money into the team.

In other news, Caterham hopes to raise £2.35 million by Nov 14, to secure the money needed to take part in the 2014 season finale. Maybe that's another good option for Alonso. Declare himself a Caterham fan, buy the team, slap in a Mercedes unit, and keep finding six tenths during each preseason test week.

[thetinywanderer]

Originally Posted by deetjohn

Really glad with Felipe Nasr joining the grid. He will bring both talent and money into the team.

In other news, Caterham hopes to raise £2.35 million by Nov 14, to secure the money needed to take part in the 2014 season finale. Maybe that's another good option for Alonso. Declare himself a Caterham fan, buy the team, slap in a Mercedes unit, and keep finding six tenths during each preseason test week.

Looks like their plan did not work out as planned. Lots of people upset with their crowd funding idea:

Motorsport.com: Ecclestone and others slam Caterham's 'begging bowl' http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIw0d_c3ho

[MCR]

McLaren are expected to make the Driver decision this week. Mark Webber wants Button to forego any McLaren deal and sign up for Sports car racing!!

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/report/...ussen-for-2015

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Fullrevs

What if he decides against moving? Will Ferrari just tell him to leave? Does that mean Kimi will be shown the door?

If that happens, there's a possibility that Kimi would be retained and gets paid but not get a drive and Alonso and Vettel pair up (assuming Vettel is moving to Ferrari).

[deetjohn]

Alonso finalises switch to McLaren

Alonso's switch to the McLaren Formula 1 team is set to be confirmed before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, once the team knows who his team-mate will be.

Sources close to the Woking-based outfit have revealed that Alonso has now finalised a big-money move from Ferrari to McLaren next year, renewing a partnership that ended prematurely in 2007 after a tumultuous campaign.

His decision to accept McLaren's overtures has, however, forced the team into making a difficult decision between Button and Magnussen for the seat alongside him.

The closeness of their performances this year has left the team unable to come to a swift conclusion about who should line up alongside Alonso.

For while Magnussen has impressed with his pace this season, it is Button's higher scoring rate and experience, which would help development of the new Honda engine, that has left some senior figures believing it should go with him.

It is suggested that Alonso would prefer for Button to remain on board next year because it would help accelerate the team's push towards the front of the grid.

However, financial factors could also play a role in the decision, with Magnussen being a much cheaper option for the team.

[Fullrevs]

Mclaren making room for Alonso entourage

Officially, Fernando Alonso is still deciding if he should leave Ferrari for another team.

Behind the scenes, the Spaniard's switch to McLaren-Honda for next year is definitely done.

It is believed he will be at Woking on Wednesday, where the multi-year contract with suitable exit clauses and valued at up to EUR 35 million per season may be physically signed.

An announcement before the season finale in Abu Dhabi is expected.

There are other signs that the Alonso move is definitely happening. It has emerged this week that the 33-year-old could be taking his Ferrari race engineer, Andrea Stella, with him to McLaren.

Italy's Autosprint also claims that up to 15 McLaren employees are leaving, with correspondent Alberto Antonini suggesting the British team is "making room" for Alonso.

Indeed, there are rumours Alonso may also be taking Ferrari's sporting director Massimo Rivola with him and several other engineers including Edoardo Brosco.

Spain's Marca, meanwhile, reports that the Spanish mobile phone operator Movistar is keen to link up with Alonso to McLaren, following "several meetings" between representatives of both sides.

Plan B

Finally, a McLaren source has denied reports that what amounts to a 'B-car' penned by new team aerodynamics chief Peter Prodromou will be taken to Abu Dhabi and tested in Friday practice.

The source said it is "spot-on" to surmise that the reporter for Britain's Sky simply misinterpreted Spanish reports that said McLaren's Honda-powered interim car may make its debut at the post-race Abu Dhabi test.

When asked about the Honda car, team boss Eric Boullier had told the Marca daily in Brazil: "We will take the decision in ten days but it (the debut) could be in Abu Dhabi.

"If we are not ready then we go to plan B or C," the Frenchman added.

The McLaren source said the decision about whether to take the Honda car to Abu Dhabi for the post-race test has not yet been taken.

Source: Motorsport.com

Alonso almost has his own F1 team. 15 slots being made available for Alonso's entourage.That is probably half his Ferrari pit garage. I'm quite keen to see/hear Andrea Stella speak in English over the pit radio to Alonso.