German Bild mentioned a rumour that Heidfeld might get Barrichello's seat for 2006. Should be taken with a big grain of salt: Bild isn't the most reliable source and even they say it is only a rumour. Interesting nevertheless. It does look though as if Rubens will leave Ferrari by the end of this year and that Button will get a seat at Williams.
Now that would actually be great but I'm not so sure that BMW is ready to let Heidfeld go especially after their increasing interest in Sauber It does make sense for Ferrari to start grooming a succesor for when MS decides to retire... whenever that happens.
Actually the article had a couple more tidbits: Theissen is VERY pleased with Nick for his analytical skills as test driver. He seems to be able to provide quite some feedback after his drives. OTOH again bear in mind this is a German newspaper reporting. Also Nick's girlfriend and Michael's wife allegedly are good friends and Nick learned his go kart skills on the Schumacher go kart track in Kerpen. It's all in the family...
Hmm German newspaper ....Heidfeld (german) going to Ferrari. Schumi and Heidfeld driving for Ferrari next year. Sounds good. Now Rubens... RB will go to BAR...its written in the sky. RB almost went to BAR before the 2005 season started. I'm sure Gil de Ferran (Brazilian) is interested.
I don't see NH as viable successor to MS. Raikkonen is the only driver IMHO best suited to fill that roll. On a side note I just don't see why Button would be in such a hurry to jump to Williams where their future is in a state of flux. Although I was saying the same thing about Montoya last year going to McL when they were looking horrible.
In the event Ferrari cannot get a clearly stronger #1 over a #2 ala MS over RB, will Ferrari continue that driver stategy or will they go to a system where there is no 1 or 2 but both pretty much equal ? Who was (if there was one) the #1 in Berger-Alesi days ?
I think the clear cut 1-2 positions is something Schumacher and his group brought to Ferrari in recent times. Ferrari did have clear 1-2 positions in the past (e.g. Lauda-Rega), but I'd say the lines were less clear drawn in the eighties and nineties. Maybe Villeneuve-Pironi was the last clear cut 1-2, but that's not how Mr. 2 saw it. Arnoux, Johannson, Tambay, Alboreto were not that clearly separated. Same is true for Berger and Alesi (where I think Berger was #1). So there is a good chance that the team will go back to how it was before Schumacher with more 1.5 and 1.5 drivers rather than 1 and 2.
I hope Nick stays the course. I know Ferrari is the dream seat of most F1 drivers or aspirants. But I don't think it's the wisest of moves to leave his first good opportunity ever after only one year for what really amounts to the unknown at Ferrari. Before Imperial jumps all over me, remember that Ferrari is staring down the barrel of a MAJOR shake up in personnel. Which means, at best, he'll enjoy a year under Michael and Co., and then be forced to live through a re-organization. Stay put and show the world what you can do. Besides, once Michael retires I'm not convinced that Heidfeld is the driver on whose shoulders you want to strap the direction of Ferrari.
Sauber may be more likely for Nick if BMW buys over Sauber. Maybe Barrichello and Massa will do a swap. I think Ferrari likes him and JT's son is Massa's manager. Raikonnen is still Schumi's #1 replacement
I don't think we will see Nick at Ferrari. I hope he stays with Williams and wins a race this season.
All these sound nice...but I still think that Ferrari will go for an Italian driver...GF... and to be honest I'd rather see an Italian driving a Ferrari.... Lets see what will happent
If Nick keeps his pace, Williams may keep him and punt Webber. If RB goes to BAR, now is the time to go after Kimi.
