German Car Forum

I'll be away for a few days, but I read some silly season rumors. What do you guys think?

Rumor - Hamilton has allegedly demanded a pay raise or huge bonus from Mclaren.

- Alonso has allegedly "talked" with Mario Thiessen, who obviously calls it an unrelated chat.

- ChampCar driver Bourdais got into a spat, is allegedly going to STR

- Vettel allegedly going to STR for a full-time drive

- Heidfeld allegedly nabbed a long-term deal

- Ross Brawn allegedly taking over as team principal or sporting director at Ferrari, Schumacher being tipped to take Brawn's technical director gig

I would love to see Vettel go to STR. The bloke is 19, too young to be in a top car, in my opinion. I don't care how good he is or how good the simulators are. I think that teenagers getting into F1 full-time with a top team makes it look to easy.

As an occasional BMW fan, I would also like to see tester/developer extraordinaire Alonso join the team. I am somewhat surprised that BMW is not up there with Ferrari and Mclaren this year or Ferrari and Renault last year.

I can't resist about Hamilton. If he has already asked for a raise, surely he knows that he can make a lot more from endorsements. Will he ask the team to allow him to make millions/billions by endorsing a gaggle of products?

I can't blame Hamilton for not demanding a raise. From what I know his annual sallary is 700 000 euro which is faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar less than the other top performing drivers. So I can't blame him for getting a little jealous of Alonso. After all being a F1 driver is a job and it is completely natural for Hamilton to demand more money for his outstanding job.

Vettel is a high potential driver but I feel myself that he isn't ready for a top team. I wasn't too impressed with his performance at USA GP. He did too many mistakes and drove off track a few times. Maybe in 1-2 years he will capability to properly take full advantage of a top car.

Bourdais is almost a lock to go to STR. Scott Speed has done nothing with his seat.

I think it will be interesting to see what happens to Ralf. At the beginning of the season he was quoted as saying [I'm as good as my brother, he just had the better car]. I'm doubtful that he'll have a seat next year if he keeps on driving the way he is.

I would rather see Scott keep his seat and Luizi go.
Hamilton isn't out of order for asking for pay raise.
Schumi & Ross Brawn team will be great.

I hope Alonso doesn't come to BMW, that would mean we would loose Kubica, if Heidfeld has a long term deal!

Ralf will accept $17m pay-cut
German wants to stay at Toyota

Jul.4 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher has agreed to slash his annual salary if it means he can keep his seat at Toyota in 2008.

The embattled German, who has conspicuously failed to live up to his reportedly (US) $22m retainer this year, has offered to drive for under $5m for the coming season, the newspaper Munich TZ claimed.

Supplementing his income would be a whopping bonus of $340,000 per point in 2008, should Toyota officials accept the offer made in recent days by 32-year-old Schumacher's manager Hans Mahr.

Meanwhile, the German gossip magazine Bunte reports that Ralf's wife Cora is pregnant and expecting their second child in early 2008.

She also defended her husband, saying: "Ralf can only do as much as his car will allow. With a competitive machine he is one of the world's best drivers, as he proved regularly with BMW."

[Source: F1update.com]

Heidfeld signs new BMW contract
Report in German press

Jul.3 (GMM) Nick Heidfeld has finally signed a two-year extension to his contract to race for BMW-Sauber in formula one, according to reports.

The German newspaper Bild-Zeitung said Heidfeld, who is 30, will again line up alongside Poland's Robert Kubica in 2008, with reserve and test driver Sebastian Vettel probably loaned to Toro Rosso for two years.

Heidfeld's new deal runs from the conclusion of the current season until the end of December in 2009, Bild claimed.

The newspaper also said he had been "right at the top of the list" for a possible switch to Honda.

BMW team principal Mario Theissen is quoted as saying: "Sebastian's disadvantage compared to Heidfeld and Kubica is obviously his missing race experience."

[Source: F1update.com]

PLEASE leave instead.. you dont deserve it.. even if you PAY to drive

Coulthard new deal for '08
DC carries on at RB

Jul.4 (GMM) David Coulthard has agreed terms to remain at Red Bull Racing for a fourth consecutive season in 2008, it has emerged.

It was reported in Austria last month that both the Scottish veteran and his current teammate Mark Webber had "done enough to secure the blessing" of team owner Dietrich Mateschitz.

Relevant contracts were due to be signed, and according to the specialist publication Auto Motor und Sport, this has now been done.

If 36-year-old Coulthard does go on to complete the entire 2008 season, he would rank only behind Riccardo Patrese and Michael Schumacher in terms of the most experienced F1 drivers ever.

He explained this week: "I still love racing. I do a good job, I deliver value. I wake up on a Sunday and still look forward to going racing.

"I love it here at Red Bull. I still have the pace but I'm now armed with more experience. I'm not scared of hard work and we're building the foundations of future success here.

"I am not sensitive about being 36-years-old and people ask about how long I will go on.

"I only think about age when some idiot asks about it, which is fair enough because I am closer to the end of my career than the beginning."


[Source: F1update.com]

No, not another season for the square head!!!


Ralf should leave too, F1 needs more new young talents like Hamilton.

I would hate to see more and more young "talent". I'm really disliking sub-20 year-olds getting into F1 with little formula racing experience. I like it even less when they get into F1 and immediately go to a top team so I am happy to read about Vettel possibly starting full-time with STR.

When Raikkonen made it into F1, he had a handful of races with Formula Renault. He was said to be "good enough" for F1 and I'm not doubting that. The simulators, driver aids, testing budgets, team budgets, etc . . . made sure he would be ready for F1, but had he achieved enough to be considered for F1? I think he had not.

My point is that F1 is supposed to be the top racing series in the world and, in my perhaps extreme opinion, these inexperienced, teenage "star" drivers are making entry into the sport look excessively simple and super quick. Even exceptionally talented drivers used to toil in the feeder series, test cars, drive backmarking lemons for several years before a top team will take a look at them.

F1 is already a young man's game and it might become an extremely young man's game. If it does, I don't see why it should continue to be the pinnacle of motorsport because entry will look too easy.

About Ralfie. F1 fans in general are very unflattering towards him. Is it because he has the Schumacher name or his bloated pay cheque? Or is it because he always insists that he is as good as his brother?

I just want to point out one thing about Ralfie. He can't drive unless he has a perfect car, but surely he is not the only one! Most of the other drivers cannot do squat without a sublime race car! We see it with even double-WDCs, journeyman drivers, overrated poofs, etc . . . Sure, I don't rate Ralf highly, but he convinced his employers to give him a big salary, he owns a couple jets and snagged a decent-looking bird for a wife. He certainly is not the only one who struggles with a rubbish car. I wouldn't go as far as his wife and call him one of the best drivers if he had a good car though.

I have to agree with that.
Interesting fact is that Ralf is a late breaker type, but his car usually lacks brake stability and the new tires are complete crap.

Ofcourse the question is his development and setup skills.

Whoa latest rumors ...


Wild rumours - Silly season gets sillier
Button, Alonso, back to Renault
07/07/07 12:18
Formula 1 : News BUTTON - F1-Live.com

F1's annual 'silly season' always slips into a high gear at Silverstone, but one particular paddock rumbling is worth a mention.

Sources including Britain's Daily Mail and the Spanish newspaper Diario As suggested on the scene of the British Grand Prix that Renault could completely overhaul its driver line-up next year.

The Daily Mail said 27-year-old Button, who drove for Renault in 2002, 'could be handed an escape route from his problems at Honda' by former boss Flavio Briatore.

The article went on: 'Although (Button) maintains he intends to stay at Honda, Renault's director of engineering Pat Symonds said they would welcome Button back.'

Reigning world champion Alonso, meanwhile, drove successfully for Renault until his switch to McLaren this year, where he is admittedly 'uncomfortable' alongside rookie sensation Lewis Hamilton.

Diario As is reporting that, among the various approaches the Spaniard has received in recent weeks, was 'one from his old boss Briatore'.



'Flavio would love to have him back in 2008 with an attractive contract of at least two years'.

The Italian television station Canale 5, meanwhile, said late on Friday that Alonso has in fact reached an agreement with Ferrari, who intend to buy out his McLaren contract. It has also been whispered that Alonso might then announce the news and sit out the 2008 on 'sabbatical'.

Alonso at Silverstone wearily rejected the swathe of wild rumours: "The only thing that I am going to say is that all the rumours are not true. I am completely concentrated on winning the championship with McLaren."

Source GMM
CAPSIS International

Alonso back at Renault would make them instantly competitive. He can make Ferrari world champion with his development skills. I feel sorry for him. He has two titles and gets no respect. A lot of new F1 fans elevate his teammate to god-like status at Alonso's expense.

I hope he leaves Mclaren. If he bolts, we will see how fast the car is without him. It's nice to see that there are still people in F1 who rate Alonso highly. For a second, I thought you and I were the only ones left, IE.

These are ofcourse rumors. But ofcourse Renault would want him back.

These latest rumours are very weird, Alonso going back to Renault, no chance, and I can't see Button leaving Honda either.

I think Ferrari is doing just fine with their drivers, so don't see why they'd want to change. I think Alonso with be staying with Mclaren to the end of his career!

Well it just gets weirder and even more silly.
Acording to AutoSport Portugal Alonso is going to Renault for 2008 and then to Ferrari in 2009.

Spyker just canned Albers so there might be an opening for next season @ Spyker.

Christijan Albers and Spyker part company

What? Most reports I read have him sitting out 2008 on a sabbatical. I must admit I like Alonso a bit more this year, probably because I think he is getting a raw deal.

Another silly rumor/speculation




So I don't get, what's the dirty part ?!

If true, Hamilton should simply learn to make his own setup, instead of coping Alonso's, and/or provide the input to the engineer on suspension, wings or whatever.

Other "inferior legends" didn't have it so easy, so why should he ?!

How dare you allege racing god/F1 legend Hamilton of copying anyone! He is a true British original! Every legend is inferior when compared to __________.

Bourdais and Vettel at STR
'Two Sebastians' move closer

Jul.17 (GMM) Gerhard Berger is edging ever-nearer to rubber-stamping his preferred driver lineup for 2008.

After saying multiple Champ Car title winner Sebastien Bourdais "has my support" in his bid to land a Toro Rosso seat, former ten time GP winner Berger also enthused about another driver.

BMW test driver Sebastian Vettel, 20, has also been linked with an STR contract in 2008, and 50 per cent team owner Berger told Auto Motor und Sport: "The boy impresses me.

"He has brains and the right attitude for the job -- and that is already half of everything you need."

Austrian Berger does, however, reserve some caution about German Vettel's outright pace, after he finished behind a Renault, Toyota and Red Bull whilst substituting on debut for the injured Robert Kubica in the US grand prix this year.

Behind Ferrari and McLaren, BMW-Sauber's car is undoubtedly the third quickest this year.

Berger said: "We would only find out really how quick he is after a few races, because it is hard to judge after just one."

[Source: UpdateF1.com]

i bet both STR drivers will lose their seat next year. but i think among the 2, Scott SPeed is doing a better job at the moment.

but i question their move, for a rookie team, to have rookie driver(s)?

they should go for something like Renault's strategy. one veteran, and one rookie. but i'd love to see Vettel get the other seat tho. then perhaps, after 2-4 seasons with that team, he can move back to Beemer, and hopefully by that time, they're regular front runners, and we can see a potential young champ

Barrichello stays for one more year
Honda line up done

Jul.19 (GMM) The news is yet to be confirmed by the Japanese team, but Rubens Barrichello has signed a new one-year contract to keep racing for Honda in 2008.

The 35-year-old, who is the most experienced driver on the grid albeit younger than David Coulthard, revealed ahead of the European grand prix that he will stay on for a third consecutive season with the Brackley based outfit.

"When I came here in 2006, it was always my intention to develop a long-term relationship and help build a strong team together," Barrichello, 35, who switched from Ferrari at the end of the 2005 season, said on Thursday.

2007 has been an uncompetitive season for the Honda team, but Barrichello also indicated that current teammate Jenson Button will be honouring his long-term deal into next year.

He said: "Jenson and I have a great relationship together as team-mates and stability will be key as we look forward to the challenge of 2008.

"For now though, we have eight races remaining and that is where our focus lies."

[Source: UpdateF1.com]