Here's the thread to discuss and look forward to F1 2010 where a whole raft of changes that will include

• No Refuelling
• 4 new teams taking the grid size to 26 cars
• No more KERS
• Spinners/hub covers being banned

And a few of the seats have already been confirmed, here's who's going where

DRIVER LINEUPS (List will be updated)

BRAWN MERCEDES (numbers 1 and 2)
Confirmed: ???
Likely: Jenson Button (GBR), Nico Rosberg (GER)

RED BULL RENAULT (numbers 3 and 4)
Confirmed: Sebastian Vettel (GER), Mark Webber (AUS)

McLAREN MERCEDES (numbers 5 and 6)
Confirmed: Lewis Hamilton (GBR)
Likely: Kimi Raikkonen (FIN)

FERRARI (numbers 7 and 8)
Confirmed: Felipe Massa (BRA), Fernando Alonso (SPA)

QADBAK SAUBER (numbers 11 and 12)
Confirmed: ???
Likely: Heikki Kovalainen (FIN), Nick Heidfeld (GER)

WILLIAMS COSWORTH (numbers 14 and 15)
Confirmed: Rubens Barrichello (BRA), Niko Hulkenberg (GER)

RENAULT (numbers 16 and 17)
Confirmed: Robert Kubica (POL)
Likely: Timo Glock (GER)

FORCE INDIA MERCEDES (numbers 18 and 19)
Confirmed: ???
Likely: Adrian Sutil (GER), Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA)

TORO ROSSO FERRARI (numbers 20 and 21)
Confirmed: ???
Likely: Sebastien Buemi (SUI), Jaime Alguersuari (SPA)

CAMPOS META COSWORTH (numbers 22 and 23)
Confirmed: Bruno Senna (BRA)
Likely: Pedro de la Rosa (SPA)

USF1 COSWORTH (numbers 24 and 25)
Confirmed: ???
Likely: Alexander Wurz (AUT), Jonathan Summerton (USA)

VIRGIN/MANOR COSWORTH (numbers 26 and 27)
Confirmed: ???
Likely: Anthony Davidson (GBR), Adam Carroll (IRE)

LOTUS COSWORTH (numbers 28 and 29)
Confirmed: ???
Likely: Jarno Trulli (ITA), Fairuz Fauzy (MAL)

Pictures of the new Mike Gascoyne designed Lotus, well the windtunnel model, also a clue on the helmet as to what the livery will be

http://www.mypicx.com/uploadimg/918201320_10282009_1.jpg

And an early pic of the new Manor car

http://www.manorgp.com/MGPRLCar.gif

Williams confirm their driver pairing, Rubens Barrichello moves from Brawn and is joined by the reigning GP2 champion Niko Hulkenberg

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/154320/1/will...er_line-up.html

Also suprisingly, Bridgestone have decided to pull out as tyre supplier

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/154301/1/brid...to_quit_f1.html

Hamilton & Raikkonen in the same team!
I wonder which we're going to see - or

First it was Honda, then BMW, now Toyota are the latest to pull out of F1 due to the credit crunch

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/154373/1/toyo...uitting_f1.html

The grid will stay at 13 teams though because the first replacements for them are Qadbak Sauber, who bought the BMW Sauber operation in the summer and were given the "14th spot" which was first refusal if a team were to pull out.

Hope the God Kobayashi gets a drive.

Now Renault are considering their future

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8343221.stm

Only positive is that if the worst were to happen, Renault would be a lot easier to sell as they have one of the best facilities in F1, the former Toleman/Benetton factury in Enstone.

Prodrive/Aston Martin are ready to pounce on it should Renault decide to leave the sport.

Big News today, Brawn GP are no more after a buyout by Mercedes, they have also confirmed Nico Rosberg as one of the drivers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8362295.stm

Also Jenson Button is now a near certainty to form a dream all-british lineup at McLaren alongside Lewis Hamilton, also Lotus have confirmed they will announce their driver lineup this week, likely to be Jarno Trulli and Kamui Kobayashi.

UPDATED 2010 LINEUP (if Button joins McLaren as expected)

McLAREN: 1. Jenson Button 2. Lewis Hamilton
MERCEDES: 3. Nico Rosberg, 4. ???
RED BULL: 5. Sebastian Vettel, 6. Mark Webber
FERRARI: 7. Fernando Alonso, 8. Felipe Massa
QADBAK SAUBER: 11. ???, 12. ???
WILLIAMS: 14. Rubens Barrichello, 15. Niko Hulkenberg
RENAULT: 16. Robert Kubica, 17. ???
FORCE INDIA: 18. ???, 19. ???
TORO ROSSO: 20. Sebastien Buemi, 21. ???
CAMPOS META 22. ???, 23. Bruno Senna
MANOR: 24. Timo Glock, 25. Lucas di Grassi
USF1: 26. ???, 27. ???
LOTUS: 28. ???, 29. ???

I assume it will be the same car then Yellow?

Top 4 teams look very strong.

Pretty much, although they'll have to make alterations to cater for the "no refuelling" rule.

But you're right, potentially all 4 of those teams are looking good already, i also fancy Williams to be up there too as they have a good lineup.

Lotus report on signing their first driver in an interview with team boss Tony Fernandes and designer Mike Gascoyne

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8360705.stm

Speaking of Japanese drivers, theres rumours this guy could return, bloody hope he does too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRJwZu5Qqio&feature=related

Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi both sign for Manor

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/154694/1/does...lt_f1_exit.html

I've updated the driver list long with it.

Heidfeld will probably go to Mercedes - all German line up in German car.

There rumours going round saying that Heidfeld is nowhere near the drive and that the new favourite for the drive is Anthony Davidson

Kimi to get a drive with Mercedes?

Kimi quits F1 for Rallying.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8365967.stm

What an arse.

He did do the Finland Rally in a Peugeot 207 this year and did well, he was lying 15th overall before rolling his car on the toughest stage on the course, he said afterwards that he loved it. So i find this not suprising at all.

But maybe this is why, Jenson Button getting the drive Raikkonen wanted

http://www.mclaren.com/latestnews/mclaren-...php?article=384

Latest driver rumour mill

LOTUS - Jarno Trulli confirms he has not signed with anyone yet but Lotus have confirmed they are interested in bringing him in as number 1 driver (crash.net)

FORCE INDIA - Pedro de la Rosa is the favourite to land a drive at Force India after talks with Campos Meta broke down due to his salary demands, they will also offer Scottish DTM star Paul di Resta a test (F1-Live.com)

McLAREN - The deal Jenson Button reportedly signed is a 3 year deal worth £18million, his team-mate Lewis Hamilton earns triple that (The Times)

MERCEDES - Kimi Raikkonen is interested in returning to F1 in 2011 with Mercedes providingthey can produce race winning machinery (Autosport)

Schumacher to make another return with Mercedes...

If that happens, then it'll just confirm that Button did not leave because of money

Pending sponsorship agreements, USF1 have confirmed their first driver, 26 year old Jose Maria Lopez after his visit to the new team's base in Charlotte, North Carolina.

http://www.pechitolopez.com.ar/nota_en.php?idn=57

Plus its expected for Lotus to confirm Trulli & Kobayashi within the next week

UPDATED LIST

McLAREN: 1. Jenson Button (GBR), 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR)
MERCEDES: 3. ???, 4. ???
RED BULL: 5. Sebastian Vettel (GER), 6. Mark Webber (AUS)
FERRARI: 7. Fernando Alonso (SPA), 8. Felipe Massa (BRA)
QADBAK SAUBER: 11. ???, 12. ???
WILLIAMS: 14. Rubens Barrichello (BRA), 15. Niko Hulkenberg (GER)
RENAULT: 16. Robert Kubica (POL), 17. ???
FORCE INDIA: 18. ???, 19. ???
TORO ROSSO: 20. Sebastien Buemi (SUI), 21. ???
CAMPOS META 22. ???, 23. Bruno Senna (BRA)
MANOR: 24. Timo Glock (GER), 25. Lucas di Grassi (ITA)
USF1: 26. ???, 27. Jose Maria Lopez (ARG)
LOTUS: 28. ???, 29. ???

Mercedes finally confirm Nico Rosberg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8374154.stm

Great news, the Former BMW squad have been saved, BMW themselves ditched the mysterious "Qadbak" investments organisation after it was proved to be the front for a convicted British fraudster. So the team has been sold bnack to former owner Peter Sauber, it means the team will revive the "Sauber" name for the first time since 2005.

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/154981/1/qadb..._to_sauber.html

And Force India have confirmed their 2 drivers for 2010 as Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi and have also confirmed an extension to their engine contract with Mercedes

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/154984/1/forc...er_line-up.html

EDIT: Qadbak are also the same group that bought Notts County, so it might affect them

Driver line-up as it stands

McLaren: 1. Jenson Button, 2. Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes: 3. Nico Rosberg, 4. ????????
Red Bull: 5. Sebastian Vettel, 6. Mark Webber
Ferrari: 7. Fernando Alonso, 8. Felipe Massa
Sauber: 11. ????????, 12. ????????
Williams: 14. Rubens Barrichello, 15. Niko Hulkenberg
Renault: 16. Robert Kubica, 17. ????????
Force India: 18. Adrian Sutil, 19. Vitantonio Liuzzi
Toro Rosso: 20. Sebastien Buemi, 21. ????????
Campos Meta: 22. ????????, 23. Bruno Senna
Manor: 24. Timo Glock, 25. ????????
USF1: 26. Jose Maria Lopez, 27. ????????
Lotus: 28. ????????, 29. ????????

The Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal (personally one of my favourite tracks) is Back!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8383945.stm

Toro Rosso retain Jaime Alguersuari

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/154998/1/algu...or_f1_2010.html

BMW's F1 team boss Mario Thiessen will not be involved in the new Sauber team, instead he will focus on BMW's world touring car championship programme on a full time basis.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8386215.stm

The official 2010 entry list and car numbers are finally out, minus Sauber who are still waiting for conformation, if so, they'll take car numbers 26 and 27

Interestingly though, Manor Grand Prix have been rebranded Virgin Racing

OFFICIAL FIA FORMULA 1 2010 ENTRY LIST

VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES
1. Jenson Button
2. Lewis Hamilton

BRAWN GP MERCEDES BENZ RACING*
3. Nico Rosberg
4. ???

RED BULL RACING RENAULT
5. Sebastian Vettel
6. Mark Webber

SCUDERIA FERRARI SANTANDER
7. Felipe Massa
8. Fernando Alonso

AT&T WILLIAMS COSWORTH
9. Rubens Barrichello
10. Niko Hulkenberg

RENAULT F1 TEAM
11. Robert Kubica
12. ???

FLY KINGFISHER FORCE INDIA F1 MERCEDES
14. Adrian Sutil
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi

SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO FERRARI
16. Sebastien Buemi
17. ???

TEAM LOTUS COSWORTH
18. ???
19. ???

CAMPOS DALLARA
20. ???
21. Bruno Senna

USF1 YOUTUBE COSWORTH
22. ???
23. ???

VIRGIN RACING COSWORTH
24. Timo Glock
25. ???

KEY
* Subject to name change to Mercedes Grand Prix
** Sauber awaiting conformation from FIA regarding if Toyota wish to give up their original entry or keep it to sell on.

Jacques Villeneuve set to return to F1 with Lotus

http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_5738923,00.html

any more word for a drive for Kobayashi?

The rumour is he is the hot favourite to be his teammate at Lotus but he's waiting to see what happens at Sauber where he is one of 7 possible drivers shortlisted. Here's the full list of drivers shortlisted by Peter Sauber for the 2 race seats he has available

Nick Heidfeld
Jarno Trulli
Heikki Kovalainen
Pedro de la Rosa
Christian Klien
Kamui Kobayashi
Vitaly Petrov

I've heard Petrov is mint.

Fixed

The attraction with him is his money, he's rumoured to have a personal fortune of around £15million plus he has the support of a host of oil rich russian sponsors.

It does'nt mean he's just another crappy pay-driver though, he's had 3 great years in GP2 and seems more than capable of stepping up to the top level.

Sauber have finally been awarded the "13th spot" in the entry list after Toyota's withdrawal, there is now though fresh doubt about Renault after their chief executive Carlos Ghosn publically stated he hates motorsport.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8393888.stm

The good news though is if Renault decide to pull out, David Richards and his Prodrive/Aston Martin group are reportedly already lined up to take over the existing facilities at Enstone as well as buy the designs for Renault's planned 2010 car, the R30.

Alex Yoong (Minardi 2001-2002) joins Lotus to help develop young Malaysian drivers

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80446

Probably the worst kept secret all weekend but the British GP has been saved thanks to a 17 year deal between the BRDC and Bernie Ecclestone

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8397777.stm

And last night saw the biggest motorsport award's ceremony in Britain, the 28th annual Autosport magazine awards, here's who won what

MAIN AWARD
McLAREN AUTOSPORT TROPHY (For what is seen as the best up and coming young British talent, the winner recieves £50,000 of funding and a full McLaren Formula 1 test)
WINNER - Dean Smith (2009 Formula Renault UK Champion)
Other Nominees: Chrissy Palmer, Callum MacLeod, Adam Christodoulou, James Cole, James Calado
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL DRIVER OF THE YEAR - Jenson Button (2009 F1 World Champion)
BRITISH COMPETITION DRIVER OF THE YEAR - Jenson Button (2009 F1 World Champion)
RALLY DRIVER OF THE YEAR: Mikko Hirvonen (2009 WRC Runner-Up)
NATIONAL DRIVER OF THE YEAR: Colin Turkington (2009 BTCC Champion)
CLUB DRIVER OF THE YEAR: Sarah Moore (2009 Ginetta Junior Series Champion and the first female champion in British motorsport history)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Kris Meeke (2009 Intercontinentel Rally Champion)
RACING CAR OF THE YEAR: Brawn BGP-001
RALLY CAR OF THE YEAR: Citroen C4 WRC
JOHN BOLSTER TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Adrian Newey
GREGOR GRANT LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Ferrari F1 Team & Ron Dennis

Looks like Renault have found a buyer, just wondering now who it is, is it Gerard Lopez, a Luxembourg businessman who owns Genii Capital or David Richards, the man who owns Prodrive and Aston Martin.

Here's hoping its the latter <fingerscrossed>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8407138.stm

And this is interesting, all 13 teams plan to launch their new casrs all at the same time before the 1st official test session in Valencia

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80509

Lap times from the rookie test at the Jerez in Spain

1. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) ................ 1:17.418
2. Gary Paffett (GBR) ................ + 1.300
3. Paul di Resta (GBR) ................ + 1.318
4. Michael Conway (GBR) ................ + 1.678
5. Andreas Souchek (SPA) ................ + 1.740
6. Bertrand Baguette (BEL) ................ + 1.904
7. Oliver Turvey (GBR) ................ + 1.950
8. Marcus Ericsson (SWE) ................ + 1.974
9. Lucas di Grassi (BRA) ................ + 2.184
10. Jules Bianchi (FRA) ................ + 2.208
11. JR Hildebrand (USA) ................ + 2.555
12. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX) ................ + 2.772
13. Alex Rossi (USA) ................ + 2.809
14. Pablo Sanchez Lopez (MEX) ................ + 3.729
15. Daniel Zampieri (ITA) ................ + 3.861
16. Brendon Hartley (NZL) ................ + 3.907
17. Ho-Pin Tung (CHN) ................ + 4.074
18. Marco Zipoli (ITA) ................ + 4.307
19. Mirko Bortolotti (ITA) ................ + 4.336

Lotus to announce their full driver line-up tomorrow, Jarno Trulli is a cert for the number 1 seat while the 2nd seat is believed to be between Heikki Kovalainen and Takuma Sato

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80542

And Lucas di Grassi has confirmed he has signed a contract, but has'nt said who with, it's beleived to be with Richard Branson's Virgin Racing team

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/155293/1/luca...on_in_2010.html

Lotus sign Trulli & Kovalainen

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8411249.stm

Virgin confirm Lucas di Grrassi as Timo Glock's teammate

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8412892.stm

And also new team owner Richard Branson introduced the teams new corporate image in their press launch today

Sauber announce the signing of their 1st driver

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/155416/1/saub...or_f1_2010.html

LINEUP AS OF NOW
Drivers in red are contenders for those seats, of which only 7 are available now

McLAREN MERCEDES
1. Jenson Button (GBR)
2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR)

MERCEDES
3. Nico Rosberg (GER)
4. Michael Schumacher (GER), Nick Heidfeld (GER)

RED BULL RENAULT
5. Sebastian Vettel (GER)
6. Mark Webber (AUS)

FERRARI
7. Felipe Massa (BRA)
8. Fernando Alonso (SPA)

WILLIAMS COSWORTH
9. Rubens Barrichello (BRA)
10. Niko Hulkenberg (GER)

RENAULT
11. Robert Kubica (POL)
12. Romain Grosjean (FRA), Jacques Villeneuve (CAN), Nick Heidfeld (GER), Bertrand Baguette (BEL)

FORCE INDIA MERCEDES
14. Adrian Sutil (GER)
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA)

TORO ROSSO FERRARI
16. Sebastien Buemi (SUI)
17. Jaime Alguersuari (SPA), Brendon Hartley (NZL), Mikhail Aleshin (RUS)

LOTUS COSWORTH
18. Jarno Trulli (ITA)
19. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN)

CAMPOS DALLARA
20. Pedro de la Rosa (SPA), Vitaly Petrov (RUS), Pastor Maldonado (VEN)
21. Bruno Senna (BRA)

USF1 COSWORTH
22. Jose Maria Lopez (ARG)
23. Jacques Villeneuve (CAN), Jonathan Summerton (USA), JR Hildebrand (USA), Kyle Busch (USA)

VIRGIN COSWORTH
24. Timo Glock (GER)
25. Lucas di Grassi (BRA)

SAUBER FERRARI
26. Nick Heidfeld (GER), Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA), Christian Klien (AUT), Vitaly Petrov (RUS)
27. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN)

Kamikaze Kobayashi!

Mercedes sign Petronas as title sponsor

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/155475/1/merc...or_f1_2010.html

Michael Schumacher confirmed for Mercedes

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8427552.stm

It'll be interesting to see how he does after 4 years away, its also intriguing to see its only a 1 year deal though, maybe they're trying to lure Vettel in for 2011

LINEUP SO FAR

McLAREN: 1. Button, 2. Hamilton
MERCEDES: 3. Rosberg, 4. M.Schumacher
RED BULL: 5. Vettel, 6. Webber
FERRARI: 7. Massa, 8. Alonso
WILLIAMS: 9. Barrichello, 10. Hulkenberg
RENAULT: 11. Kubica, 12. ???
FORCE INDIA: 14. Sutil, 15. Liuzzi
TORO ROSSO: 16. Buemi, 17. ???
LOTUS: 18. Trulli, 19. Kovalainen
CAMPOS META: 20. ???, 21. B.Senna
USF1: 22. ???, 23. ???
VIRGIN: 24. Glock, 25. di Grassi
SAUBER: 26. ???, 27. Kobayashi