Yeah, Pez jumped the gun, beating Big Mac to the punch so they had to announce today that - Yes, he was leaving at the end of the season. They haven't announced Magnusson yet as his replacement, saying they're still weighing the options.
With Bernie was all worried about the sound of the engines loosing fans, I'm surprised he hasn't spoke up on this issue. That is worse than the step noses by far.
Looks like Hulkenberg may be the odd man out as Lotus's money deal seems very doubtful..... From motorsports.: Nov.15 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has admitted the likelihood of a Lotus race seat for 2014 has dropped almost to zero. Asked by the Swiss newspaper Blick to say where he is going after the Brazil finale, the Sauber driver answered: "I can only say that I am going (on), but not where. "The options are well known," said the German, who despite having a seat fitting at Enstone this week ultimately decided against replacing Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen for the last two races of 2013. "Force India, Sauber, Lotus," said Hulkenberg. But the implication of his 'no' to Lotus is that the financially-struggling team could not offer him a seat for 2014. Hulkenberg did say Lotus would at least have paid him for Austin and Brazil. "Of course I would not drive for nothing. I'm not a charity," he insisted. For 2014, however, he admitted: "The chances are the worst at Lotus. If you believe the rumours, Maldonado is already there." Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that the deadline for Lotus' 'Quantum' deal to be finalised is Friday. But correspondent Michael Schmidt said even Lotus no longer believes in a "miracle". Mark Webber described a driver market in which the highly-rated Hulkenberg could be left on the sidelines as "unhealthy" for the pinnacle of motor sport. Indeed, Hulkenberg admitted it is curious he was never in real contention to replace Sergio Perez at McLaren. "I often spoke to Martin Whitmarsh," he said. "It's hard to know why there was so little interest. I believe I have made all the right arguments on the track." Nevertheless, he said the uncertainty of late 2010 - when Williams left him without a seat for 2011 at the very last minute - was a worse feeling. "It was constantly put off and put off until I had nothing," said Hulkenberg. "But I was still new to the business. Now I've got used to it." Posted by: GMM Journalist
Looks like Ferrari thinks that competition might bring the best out in both drivers..... From motorsports..: Nov.21 (GMM) Having given Fernando Alonso "eight out of ten" for his 2013 season, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo now insists the Spaniard is not the famous Italian team's number 1 driver. "I don't like number 1, number 2," he told CNN. Alonso, who has had an often fraught relationship with di Montezemolo this year and flirted with moves to Red Bull and McLaren, has been controversially paired for 2014 with Ferrari's last world champion, Kimi Raikkonen. But Brazilian Felipe Massa, who has been regarded as Ferrari's number 2 in recent years, was clearly Alonso's preferred teammate going forwards. "Alonso knows that he drives to win for himself, but also for Ferrari," di Montezemolo insisted. "Ferrari is a team and I want drivers (who) will drive and will act and react as a team member, not only one man," he added. Di Montezemolo also dismissed suggestions Alonso, who infamously clashed with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2007, will not get along with Finn Raikkonen. "I don't want to say that they are old," he smiled, "but I'm sure (they will get along), yes."
But they have always had a number 1 and number 2 driver. Maybe they didn't call them that but that's how the team works.
Actually can understand the logic of #1 and #2, but I also have always thought the best player should play week to week..... After Kimi getting paid very well to get the boot so that Ferrari could get Alonso, I am sure that in Kimi's gut he would like to prove them wrong to have done that and that he is the better driver.....but Alonso will do everything in his skill box to make sure that doesn't happen... This will either go well for Ferrari or blow up in their face only time will tell and it sure is going to be fun to watch two roosters in the same hen house!!
And that's how Alonso likes it. He didn't want to keep Massa around only because he likes the guy. I understand that, though. Every F1 driver wants the focus to be on him. I think anyone who claims he doesn't want to work for a team that names their drivers as #1 and #2 is either already being treated as a #2 or is worried he will be. This is another dig at Alonso, just like giving him an 8/10 without acknowledging the role played by the relative performance of his car. That said, it just might work, pushing him the way Mark laid it out. Wonder whether they told Alonso, when they were ready to sign Raikkonen, they weren't going to treat him as a #1 anymore... :skep:
There's one sure way to be regarded the #1 driver on the team, and that's to do what Vettel did and consistently outdrive your teammate!
Since that was Massa's seat, Kimi will be....but I understand what you are saying! :biggrin5: But I really doubt Kimi cares what color the camera pod is as long as he gets paid!
Ron Dennis brokered a deal that put Perez in at Force India along with the Hulk. That's a strong pairing for them.
Google added the McLaren Technology Center to Street View https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=mclaren+technology+centre&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=mclaren+technology+centre&cid=1158993677060234665&t=m&layer=c&cbll=51.345972,-0.547802&panoid=vyYITGKSqZTh1u7afunx-w&cbp=13,50.86,,0,9.69&ie=UTF8&ll=51.34567,-0.547804&spn=0.001052,0.003015&z=18&source=embed