http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/30/rubens-barrichello-sign-for-williams
I wonder if Nico will be any better than Rubens. Replacing him at Brawn is a mistake imo. He's probably one of the most hungry to win on the grid, and as admitted by Jenson, he's also very skillful at setting up the car. OTOH, is probably exactly what Williams need at this point.
I'd guess that this assures Button's return to Brawn. This will be an interesting pairing to watch. Good luck Rubens.
Understood but in that he and the team have few other options at this point I'll bet they find a mutually agreeable figure. After all they are reasonable people
Ferrari should sign Rubino for the same amount that Williams will pay. If Massa's return is unsuccessful they have a proven winner waiting in the wings. If Massa is successful then Rubens gets a great retirement deal from Ferrari
The article is almost two weeks old and I still haven't been able to find any confirmation on www.autosport.com (although I could have missed it), so I wonder how accurate this is. If true, I wonder if this will mean team orders at Brawn GP at the final two races. Jack.
I don't know about that although I have read posted today on a blog that TV Globo in Brazil has announced that Rubens Barrichello will be at Williams in 2010, with Cosworth engines.....
One of the problems of trying to catch up in points (especially against your own teammate) after the silly season has begun is that you never know where a driver's loyalty and a team's support might lie, when the driver won't be around next season. There must be at least a psychological factor there.
Button will probably stay, unless MB directs Kimi to Brawn, if they're looking to make a move from McLaren.
I have no idea why Ross would want to replace Rubino. He's outperformed Jens the since Spain i think.
Rubens has done a good job at Brawn - but he doesn't have a long term future in F1, so I'm not surprised that he's decided to take the best $ deal on the table for next year. Good for him. Nico will be a good signing for Brawn - he has performed miracles with a poor performing Williams and clearly has WDC potential. Button had better get his go faster stripes out, or he will be get trousered next year. My only fear is that Brawn lacks the development $ to produce a competitive car next season - I hope I am proved wrong.
It's becoming clear that Mclaren is going to build it's own engines, a British version of Ferrari. So if thats the case, don't worry about BrawnGP they will end up having the major backing of the mighty Benz crew.
FA will be driving a Ferrari in 2010 FM is still a big ?????? KR is gone, adios, goodbye GF not setting the world on fire in the Ferrari MS doubtful that he will ever race in anger ever again. RB has won in 2009 knows how Ferrari operates He would be my first choice in the stable to step in if Massa cannot get it done
A few snippets from Joe's S blog The relationship between McLaren and Mercedes is going to end in divorce as quickly as is decently possible as Mercedes has found exactly what it wants in buying into Brawn GP. McLaren and Mercedes-Benz have been heading in different directions. Both want to build supercars, but they dont appear to want to do it together, as they are both busy developing their brands and they need to be selfish. The launch of the new McLaren MP4-12C the other day (just before Mercedes pulled the covers off the SLS AMG at the Frankfurt Motor Show) was a sign of where things are going in the road car markets and that has to have an effect in F1. Ironically, if McLaren does start making its own engines it more logical, rather than less, for its road car rivals to launch F1 programmes against them and Ferrari because the likes of Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Porsche are facing stronger competition in the marketplace and so need to create compelling reasons why customers would buy their products, rather than those of their racier rivals. A successful F1 programme is a very good way of achieving this. So my feeling is that McLarens future is building its own engines. Now is a great time to buy up necessary elements to achieve that strategy. There are good people, great intellectual property and basic hardware (such as dynos) available now as manufacturers get out of F1. It is therefore entirely logical for McLaren to try to grab some of it.
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the engine in the new MP4-12C already a McLaren design assembled in house?
BMW then MB. Point of fact McLaren is already moving away from MB as far as the road cars go and it won't help the marketing if they don't race with their own engines. Particularly since the next car out will be in an even more premium sector.
Sure about this? Iirc from reading C&D on Friday at the doctor's office, that the engine manufacturing is outsourced. You guys are right though, an in-house F1 powertrain program makes sense since they're intent on expanding the road-car business.
According to this month's R&T the engine is designed and assembled in house. Who does the castings etc. is not specified. Who knows it might be MB. EDIT: McLaren uses the word engineered not designed.
