What to watch at the Japanese Grand Prix

This weekend brings us to one of my favorite races on the calendar, the Japanese Grand Prix at the fabled Suzuka Circuit, and it is all but certain that Sebastian Vettel secures his second world title in as many years at this race. All Vettel needs is a single point and the title is his; he can roll out of bed with a hangover from the pre-party he should be having for winning the title and get that needed point. So what else is there to look at for this race? There are a couple points of interest for me. One is the scrum between Button, Alonso and Webber and the other are the performances of Sauber, Renault and Mercedes.

The battle for the best of the rest is ultra close; Button, Alonso and Webber are separated by only three points with five races remaining. What are their motivations? Button will definitely have an emotional high of having been contractually secured for the near future by McLaren, Alonso has publicly indicated several times that second place in the championship is worth fighting for, and Webber is intent on winning a grand prix after watching his teammate in similar equipment blitz the field this season. Add to that, being at a circuit that many drivers consider to be their favorite and one of the more challenging should make it doubly fun for them and viewing public. 

In terms of Sauber, Renault and Mercedes, they are at different levels of the championship table so the interest lies in several other details. Both Sauber and Renault have admitted that they have made mistakes revolving around exhausts that have entombed them for the rest of season: Sauber expected the FIA to change the rules around exhausts and blown diffusers, which ultimately did not happen and Renault in the radical design choice of forward exiting exhausts (FEE). I want to see how these teams perform knowing that there is not much they can do to develop the cars while they are still engaged in a constructors fight with each other and Force India. Also, I want to see how Kamui Kobayashi and Bruno Senna perform. Kobayashi is at his home race so I will be interested in seeing how he bounces back after stumbling the last few races. Senna has admitted he feels that he is not fully up to speed after replacing Nick Heidfeld. So, it will be interesting to see how he goes at a real tough track while Renault continue their evaluation of him.  

In regards to Mercedes, they had issues with their exhausts and cooling but I am interested in the emotional level of the team. Do they receive an emotional boost from the very recent acquisitions of Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis as the drivers profess? Moreover, given that Ross Brawn and Norbert Haug have stated Suzuka should be more suited to the Mercedes package and that they are looking for similar performance to that of Spa and Monza, I will be interested in seeing if the drivers can deliver on that. Their performance at Spa and Monza was pretty good: two 5th place finishes for Schumacher, a 6th and retirement for Rosberg. Do they steal a podium? 

So, whether you are watching the front, the midfield or tail-enders, enjoy qualy and the race.

 

McLaren lock up Jenson Button

McLaren have made the long awaited smart choice in re-signing 2009 World Champion Jenson Button to a multi-year contract. Button has certainly earned his spot in the McLaren team after initially making a curious move to the squad in 2010. Many saw the move as a reputation destroyer because he was moving in on Lewis Hamilton's turf. Well safe to say now, Button made complete liars out of those people. 

Button was nominally beaten by Hamilton in 2010, but in 2011 he sits second in the title fight behind runaway leader Vettel. Button has shown his true value with the three C's: He has been calm, cool, and consistent. With a smooth, Sade-like style, he has maximized his tires and his results while his teammate Lewis Hamilton has struggled mightily this year in the three C's area and failing to capitalize on his speed. What is most notable is that Button has been able to complete many overtakes this season without trouble, where as Hamilton has had some high profile struggles in this area.   

According to McLaren, they view Button as crucial to their future development. For me, most of it is the niceties of complementing a driver that you just signed however certainly there is something to be said about Technical Director, Paddy Lowe's view on Formula1.com, “having a good driver with good feedback is still essential in Formula One. Even though these days we have far more tools to work with offline - more simulation, etc. - we’re still very reliant on the driver’s feedback."

"Having Jenson on board for the years to come is a great step for us as it gives us a very solid base in terms of a driver that we can rely on for feedback through that phases that you described. And Jenson was obviously very experienced for many years before he came to McLaren, so that all contributes.”
Read into that what you will about his opinion on Hamilton's ability in this area, but given the rules package and what Pirelli is being asked to do in terms of tire degradation, you can not have much better than Jenson. He might not be the fastest, he might not be the most talented or naturally gifted, but he will certainly get the most out of the car while bringing it home in one piece.

 

Nostalgia: Jackie Stewart

A true motorsports icon, 3 times F1 World Champion (1969, 1971, 1973), retired having the most grand prix victories,  a pioneering advocate for racing safety and a legend that survived his era to make it to the other side. Even if you never saw him race, you are sure to know his voice and his post racing career activities as a racing commentator, TV show host and team owner. 

Just as follow Scotsman Jim Clark, Stewart's name is scattered through the record books. His win percentage is better than both Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. He is one of the most smoothest and effortless drivers in the history of F1. His ability to convey the complex subject of motor racing into a very detailed, clear, yet simple analogy is unmatched.  

Here are a few Jackie Stewart videos including a musical tribute, Jackie demonstrating his teaching ability, Jackie on safety and Jackie in one of his finest drives. Enjoy:

Jackie Stewart Tribute Video

Perez and Bianchi battle for future Ferrari seat

Sauber rookie, Sergio Perez tested for Ferrari yesterday at the team's Fiorano track in the so called duel with current Ferrari reserve driver Jules Bianchi. Both drivers piloted a 2009 Ferrari F60 as per testing restrictions. In going straight to the lap times, Perez did 46 laps with a best time of 1:00.650, but Bianchi was four tenths quicker clocking 70 laps with a best of 1:00.213. Admittedly the testing times in and of themselves do not matter as the drivers can be on different programs, using different fuel loads or different compound tires. Moreover, what was consistency level of a particular stint. 

Ferrari had some nice things to say about Perez's performance which should be expected even if he was terrible: "Sergio proved to be aggressive and quick right from the start and was able to adapt to the car in a very short space of time," said Ferrari Driver Academy chief Luca Baldisserri. "He is very mature for his age, displaying an understanding that goes beyond the time he has spent driving single seaters."

However, Bianchi is certainly going to put up a fight to remain in the mix for a future F1 race seat. He was pleased with his performance and looks forward to the young drivers test in November where he will drive contemporary cars with DRS and KERS. Nevertheless, Bianchi can set the world on fire but he does not get that second seat. Ferrari are simply paving the way for Perez to be the number two in 2013. Ferrari team principal, Stefano Domenicali is on record about his ideal line-up being an experienced driver (Alonso) paired with a talented young driver. Well, Perez is talented, he is young plus he has F1 experience not only with the cars but with work levels. Bianchi will have to look elsewhere for a F1 seat. With the likely return of Romain Grosjean to a race seat, Bianchi's ability to play "F1 needs a French driver" card will be reduced. This week Grosjean tested a two year old Renault in preparation for Singapore GP and official reserve driver duties.

Short of having a Mexican Grand Prix back on the calendar, but with the US Grand Prix on the horizon in the American southwest what kind of marketing opportunity would it be to have a talented Mexican driver with the most iconic motorsport brand/manufacturer in the cockpit? Clearly, Perez has the goods, but drivers need not only to go fast, they need to have money or be very marketable. More opportunities rest with Perez in my opinion than with Bianchi on that side of the equation. Perez is slated to be with Sauber in 2012 when USGP rolls around and I think that is going to produce a lot buzz. Imagine the buzz in 2013 when he comes with Ferrari and follows in the steps of the iconic "Hermanos Rodriguez". It may pave the way for a future return of a Mexican Grand Prix, something currently be worked on by Carlos Slim Domit, son of THE Carlos Slim. The same Carlos Slim that sponsors Sauber via Telmex for which Perez drivers for.  

Nostalgia: Jim Clark, One of the Best if not The Best

Image LAT Photographic

There are many drivers that F1 observers think are great, but there are few in which there is near universal agreement on, Juan Manuel Fangio, Ayrton Senna and Jim Clark. Driving in an era where death was common place Clark demonstrated his utter worldly speed and natural ability to drive all things mechanical; Indycars, NASCAR, Sportscars, Rallying, farm tractors (okay, not really but he would have). He boasts 2 World Championships (1963, 1965) and one of the highest win percentages in history (.342) only outdone by Fangio and the great Alberto Ascari. You will still find his name near the top of other F1 records: wins, win % in a season, consecutive wins, pole positions, pole position %, front row start %, fast laps, consecutive podium finishes, most lap led, pole-win-fast lap in the same race, and you get the picture.

Tragically and common of the era, Clark was killed in a F2 race at Hockenheim in 1968. He was 32 and easily still in his prime. In his last F1 race, he took the pole, set the fastest lap and won the race; a feat he achieved 11 times and only bettered by Michael Schumacher. He participated in 73 grand prix which by contemporary F1 standards would be a little more than 4 seasons. So, when you think about his statistical achievements and factor in his passing, and the lack of safety in this era, it is truly staggering. Of course, stats are not even the half of it. There is the famous quote of fellow racer, Chris Amon, "If this can happen to Jimmy, what chance do the rest of us have?" which speaks to the magnitude of the respect and level of his skill in an era with drivers like Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Jack Brabham, and Dan Gurney.

Clark had many great drives. I have uploaded a few videos of the grand prix legend; some of which are considered some of his very best performances in a race car. 

F1 Young Driver Test, an American prospect

Alexander Rossi

The Young Driver Test will take place at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit beginning on November 15 and last four days. This test is generally where up and coming drivers get a chance to sample F1 machinery and teams get to evaluate the speed and how these young drivers work. Last year's test had current F1 rookies Pastor Maldonado, Sergio Perez, Jerome d'Ambrosio, Paul di Resta and Daniel Ricciardo participating and it must be said that these guys have performed well this season.

Now, this is where I will engage in some nationality bias. I will be very interested to see Alexander Rossi in this test and shocked if he does not get the chance. Rossi, 19, from the good ol' US of A, is currently competing the World Series by Renault and is in 4th place in the standings with a chance at the title. Rossi has tested F1 machinery back in 2009 with BMW-Sauber as an award for winning the 2008 Formula BMW World Championship and was to be a part of the failed disaster that was USF1. He is in the Team Lotus driver development program and has been in a Lotus T128 in a demonstration run. I really like his potential and unlike ex-F1 driver, Scott Speed who was under the white hot lights as the "Great American Hope" with the Red Bull Driver search and driver development program, Rossi seems to be going under the radar gaining experience in relative quiet.

The fact that he is affiliated with Team Lotus is also a bonus in my opinion because I believe Team Principal, Tony Fernandes is a first rate businessman and has definitely made decisions and partnerships that says he wants to run a first rate F1 operation. Also, there is more than likely seats to be available in the coming near future as the team continues to grow up.

In regards to some other drivers, Sam Bird is in line to get another look by Mercedes GP and Ferrari need to really look closely at Jules Bianchi. He is going up against current Sauber driver Sergio Perez in September in a "testing duel" but I am of the opinion Perez is definitely in the seat at Ferrari for 2013. So they need to see what Bianchi is all about. Nevertheless, there should be some interesting performances to watch and it will be interesting to see who's profile raises.

We get it Mercedes, your drivers are equals

With the official launch of Mercedes Petronas' new GP effort and a very beautiful livery, I am getting tired already of one thing. This superficial insistence on Mercedes driver equality between Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

What I have taken away so far is that they are going out of their way to demonstrate equality in the team. For example, discussing the consultation of Rosberg on what number he will have, making sure both drivers get split time at least during the initial tests, having to confirm a couple of times a week that Rosberg is happy with his situation, and all the rest of it since Schumacher officially announced his comeback. Of course, part of it is the media asking the questions, so it is a difficult discussion for Mercedes and Brawn to avoid given that during the Schumacher and Brawn partnership number one status to Schumacher has been a given.

I have some real ambivalence towards Rosberg. I think he has some talent and seems like a real likable guy, but on the other hand was not all that impressive against Nakajima during their Williams years. So, I find this notion that he is on the same level as Schumacher a bit suspect. However, of course Ross Brawn gives us the line, "Of course if a championship starts to develop, where one driver has a greater chance of winning the championship, or it becomes numerically possible only for that driver to win the championship, then there may be different priorities."

Well, does that mean after 3 races they will confer some sort of status, I think so. Then this talk about no number one driver talk will go away. With Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari expected to be strong, the least of Mercedes' concerns are whether or not Mercedes drivers being treated in an equatable manner.

Heidfeld has found fortune in nationality

It is expected that on Monday, Nick Heidfeld will be the reserve driver for Mercedes GP in 2010, according to a report by Auto Bild. There will be a lot people that will be shocked by that bit of news and for an experienced veteran driver effectively being demoted to test driver may be a blow to the pride, but in reality Heidfeld should consider himself lucky.

There are alot people that consider Raikkonen an enigma, myself included, but if that is true about Raikkonen, then Heidfeld is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. He is a quick veteran driver, very solid technically, consistent, has usually outpointed teammates and seems like a pretty good guy. Yet he can not hold a job.

It happened at Sauber twice now. Most recently he was overlooked for Pedro De la Rosa and Kamui Kobayashi and at the end of 2003 was dumped for Massa and Fisicella. He went to Jordan as an option of last resort for 2004 and Jordan was unable to keep him after a year. He barely beat out Antonio Pizzonia for the drive at Williams; no doubt helped by the fact Williams was being supplied by German automaker, BMW. Then, after one season, BMW took Heidfeld back to Sauber when they acquired the team. he finally enjoyed some stability in his career but to many he was exposed as a driver truly lacking something inside not to long into 2006.

During 2006, Heidfeld was paired with 1997 champ Jacques Villeneuve for the first part of the season, and had pedestrian results that matched Villeneuve's but was being out qualified by Villeneuve 8 to 4. Villeneuve gets hurt and is replaced by Kubica which quickly becomes a permanent switch. In his first race in Hungary, Kubica out qualified Heidfeld by four tenths. After that, Heidfeld went on to demonstrate that he really had raw speed out qualifying Kubica the rest of the season. However, there were many people that saw that and said, where has that outright performance been the last few years.

This brings us today. As BMW folded up shop, time has shown that no one wants this guy; or at the very least, just does not want to pay him. He has only found refuge with another German automaker, Mercedes Benz; and again that is as a reserve. Nevertheless, his skills will be useful; paired with Schumacher, a technical legend behind the wheel and Rosberg, an intelligent and no slouch himself in that area the team will not lack in driver information and technical feedback.

However, Heidfeld only has BMW to thank that he was not out of F1 5 years ago and now Merecedes Benz for having saved him once again. He should be on his hands and knees saying "Danke schon!"

http://formulaoneamerica.blogspot.com/2009/12/no-nick-heidfeld-at-sauber.html

If it can't be Bourdais, Sato would do just fine

You never know in Formula One. Names that you logically think that should be linked to seats, never get linked to seats. Conversely, when you think a driver has no chance and all hope is lost, they appear as if by magic. For example, after years of trying to get to F1, Sebastien Bourdais all but quit at breaking in and then all of sudden he got a drive with Toro Rosso. I strongly support Bourdais getting another opportunity in F1. My thought was maybe Renault and Bourdais himself would have been interested given his experience and change in Renault leadership.

However, if it can't be Bourdais, I think Takuma Sato would be a nice choice. Well, that is the latest report. He is quick, does not need a lot of time in knocking off rust and has never been one to lack confidence in his ability.

The other veteran connected is the steady Nick Heidfeld, who outpointed Kubica in 2009. Admittedly, he would be a respectable choice but in my opinion would be nothing more than a journeyman if it were not for Sauber, who again seems uninterested in him. Moreover, does Heidfeld have the money lined up? Given the surplus of German drivers and economy that is not likely. And if it comes down to a battle of money, I think Sato has the advantage being a popular force in Japan and a more credible and more experienced driver than Ho-Pin Tung in the Asian demographic.

Sato got the opportunity I thought he always needed when he went to Super Aguri; to work at his craft without the pressure of being on a big manufacturer team and in my opinion came out a better driver. It was a shame to see Super Aguri fold. However, with this potential opportunity he can show that he is able to apply what he has learned. Not to mention fulfill the team's stated requirement of being able to challenge Kubica and score points.

http://formulaoneamerica.blogspot.com/2010/01/who-will-drive-at-renault-with-kubica.html

A Motorsport Renaissance

Something that I have thought about before, but got to thinking again after Kimi Raikkonen's defection to the World Rally Championship is that we are in a driving renaissance period. We are back to the days when drivers showed off their skills frequently in other disciplines of racing similar to the days of Jim Clark Graham Hill, AJ Foyt, Dan Gurney and Mario Andretti. In addition, with this being an era of specialization, schedule conflicts, sponsorship commitments, and protection of drivers as brands, it is a wonderful thing to see the crossover.

Although it is something we have seen with a bit more frequency in NASCAR the last several years in association with the Rolex Sports Car Series, that is helped by the fact that Grand American Road Racing Association and NASCAR are very much in a co-operative partnership. As it relates to F1, where no similar partnership exists it makes it all the more satisfying and more of a spectacle that the current and recent refugees in the F1 fraternity were participating in events as active drivers.

Recent examples of this in addition to Raikkonen when they were in F1 are multiple 24 Hours of LeMans appearances from Christian Klein (1), Franck Montagny (9), and Sebastien Bourdais (7); who also has participated in the Petit LeMans, Spa 24 hours and Sebring in addition to his great Champcar resume. Current drivers that have sampled, planning to sample outings or want to sample other machinery are Hekki Kovalainen, Sebastien Vettel and Robert Kubica. Kovalainen and Vettel have participated in the Race of Champions, the only competition in the world where stars from F1, WRC, NASCAR, and sportscars compete against each other.

Drivers that I have had a personality affinity to with their 'crossover ability' are Robby Gordon, Sebastien Loeb, Valentino Rossi and Mario Andretti. Robby Gordon has always been a versatile driver and personally at the top of the list in this modern era (perhaps heresy on a F1 related site). He has driven everything from NASCAR, Champcar and Dakar. Also, he just did not participate...he has won. Most recently, this week he took a Dakar Rally stage win.

Then there is 6 time WRC champion, Sebastien Loeb. On top of dominating the WRC for nearly a decade, he has participated at the 24 Hours of LeMans twice with a best finish of 2nd in 2006. One of his co-drivers was, Franck Montagny. He has also tested F1 cars and has impressed but will probably never get to race in an actual GP.

Valentino Rossi, the 7 time MotoGP champ, has tested F1 and WRC machinery and impressed in both. Moreover, he has participated in several WRC rallies accounting very well for himself. Although, he recently turned down an offer to drive sportscars with former F1 driver Jean Alesi at the 24 hours of LeMans.

Mario Andretti, F1 World Champion, Indy 500 winner, Daytona 500 winner, 24 hours of LeMans, won races on road courses, dirt and paved ovals, drove until he was 60. What else can you say about the longevity and diversity of car that this guy has driven? He was a true master.

In looking to the future, there is some interest from USF1 for NASCAR driver Kurt Busch to make a switch, and he has not ruled that out. In any case, the future looks bright for fans that like to see drivers work their craft in different machinery. Maybe the question of who is the best driver will once again have a great meaning.

Why Alonso will be Champion

Even though we are barely in the new year and teams have not even unveiled their 2010 cars, I am feeling pretty certain about one thing. Fernando Alonso will be 2010 F1 World Champion. Why do I think so? For starters, one of the most complete drivers in F1 is now a member of a team that has won 8 Constructor titles since 1999; by that math alone he would be in good standing for a title.

However if we look closer at the season ahead, car development is going to be important as ever whether it is in preseason testing or in the simulator; and from the very beginning of Alonso's career people have touted him as having a good technical understanding and full comprehension of race strategy. Currently, Alonso is fast at work building relationships with his team. Ferrari Team Principal Stefano Domenicali, says he has called every day to see if the car is showing the same performance in the simulations since mid-December and that his arrival has really inspired the workforce. Ferrari appear to be getting the Schumacher-type driver they said they needed. Moreover, if you read between the lines from the multiple reports so far, Ferrari is looking to back Alonso as the number one. Felipe Massa is coming off injury and Alonso is the professed leader of the team in terms of development. So, if you bring back a Schumacher-esque present you should get Schumacher-esque results.

Another factor is that Alonso feels he is driving better than at any point of his career and clearly motivated after two substandard years in 2008 and 2009. Given his skill level and the quality of his team that is very bad news for the opposition. Also, there are the rules changes.

Although teams will have spec Bridgestone tires, the front tires will be slighter narrower than in 2009 and refueling will be banned. Now all drivers will have to adjust and deal with the new rules so what makes Alonso anything special? Well, I am reminded about several of Alonso's qualities that have been forgotten as he scrapped in the mid-field: his ability to work with the tires, his racecraft and his insistence to drive with reliability in mind. When Michelin was still in F1, then head of Michelin's Competition Department Pierre Dupasquier was amazed at the technical understanding of Alonso in regards to the tires and his driving. People forget that after spending his entire career working on Michelin tires he went to McLaren with Bridestone, after Michelin left the sport, and nearly won a third consecutive title. He came to a new team, was able to adjust to a new tire and spearhead McLaren car development. As testing begins, I think Alonso will be able to maximize his knowledge and experience to understand the different characteristics of the new tires and push his new team forward...just as he did at McLaren.

Moreover, across the board Alonso has been heralded for his strategic and clever thinking from early on in his career at Renault through his year at McLaren. It will not surprise me if Alonso does not get many pole positions as I do not think he is the outright quickest driver, however in 2005 and 2006 it was consistency, speed and reliability that won him 2 titles. All qualities that will be very important due to the ban on refueling and the increased need for tire management. You are going to have to be very quick, consistent, tactical, and reliable in 2010 and currently there is no one better than Fernando Alonso looking at those factors in total; dare I say Prost-like. Schumacher might be there, but the fact of the matter is he has not been racing in F1 since 2006.

With the talent that is on the grid this year, we are sure to have a close battle but it will be Alonso that will win it all.

Who will drive at Renault with Kubica?

With the confirmation that Eric Boullier will be Renault's new team principal, who can we expect to be the 2nd driver and test driver? Boullier has strong ties with Renault's new co-owner Gerard Lopez, having headed Lopez's Gravity Sport Management company since the end of last year. Boullier has publicly announced that the team wants a 2nd driver to be able to challenge Robert Kubica and score regularly throughout 2010 and that drivers that are a part of Gravity Sport will not get special consideration. Well, that is yet to be seen.

Even with this proclamation, I think we can expect at least one of the Gravity drivers in a test driver role. Otherwise, what is the point of being affiliated with a management company that now is part owner of a F1 team. My guess is that it will be Jerome D'Ambrosio given that he was a part of Renault Driver Development program and has a French racing pedigree. Moreover, since the driver market for experience veterans is opened up and they are looking for someone to challenge Kubica, a young driver as tester and someone who knows the F1 ropes as a racer makes sense. So, who does that leave for Renault to choose as their racing driver?

Provided that Nick Heidfeld does indeed get dropped by Sauber, which seems all but confirmed, he might be a good pairing. He is experienced, has worked with Kubica before and did outscore him in 2009.

Fisichella and De la Rosa have both been linked to Sauber, but whether they have the speed to challenge Kubica is a mystery. Not to mention that a Ferrari loan to Renault does not seem likely and that de la Rosa for all his abilities, I am not sure that Renault is looking for increased aid on the car development side.

Christian Klien is always an option unless Sauber is keen to keep him if they go with Fisichella or de la Rosa as short term fixes and Klien can further hone his skills under someone like de la Rosa.

However, for me an interesting possibility now that there is different management at Renault is Sebastien Bourdais. Flavio Briatore and Bourdais did not have the best of relationships and now that factor is removed from the equation. Bourdais's racing credentials are good, has speed, has F1 experience, has not been far removed from F1 and is French. Not to mention, he did not get a fair opportunity with Toro Rosso. Bourdais is not a name being mentioned at the moment, but I think this would be a tailor-made situation for him.

So for me, my driver line up for Renault would be Kubica, Bourdias and D'Ambrosio.

Super License and Registration please

A driver in Formula One needs a lot of things; skill, talent and money are a few. One other important need is a Super License. A super license is what allows a driver to compete in F1. Yes, just as in your road car you require a license to compete in racing. All series have some sort of licensing process. The FIA has a grading system for different levels and disciplines lettering in D, R, C, B, A and Super License.

How do you get a Super License? Even though that process is spelled out by the FIA International Sporting Code, there is still a level of subjectivity involved. There are examples of drivers that end up in F1 that make you scratch your head; and conversely there are drivers that do not get a super license that leave you equally puzzled. Nevertheless, first things, first. Here are the needs:

Driver must already hold a Grade A license and meet at least one of the following:

-minimum of 5 starts in F1 the previous year, or at least 15 starts within 3 years.

-previously held a Super Licence and have been a regular test driver in F1 the previous year.

-within the previous 2 years finish in the first 3 of the F2, GP2 Series, GP2 Asia Series, Japanese F/Nippon; or finished in top 4 of Indy Racing League within the past 2 years.

-be the current champion of Formula 3 Euro Series; F3 in Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Spain; or World Series F/Renault.

-be judged by the FIA to have consistently demonstrated outstanding ability in single-seater formula cars, but with no opportunity to qualify under the above. Then the F1 team concerned must show that the driver has driven at least 300km (186 mi) in a current F1 car consistently at racing speeds over 2 days, completed within 90 days prior to the application.

However by exception, if supported by the Safety Commission, the FIA may approve a super licence to persons judged by the Council to have met the intent of the qualification process.

However, after you get over this hurdle one remains, the fee. In recent years this has been a source of irritation and even a source of potential protest from the drivers. Fees vary from driver to driver due to the fact it's calculated by adding cost for insurance, total points scored in a season, and for the license itself. For example, if you were a rookie like Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi, in 2009 you paid 13,120 euros ($18,950). However, if you were the 2008 Champion, Lewis Hamilton you paid 218,920 euros ($316,000).

As mentioned above, there have been interesting decisions regarding who gets or does not get a Super License. Recently, rally legend Sebastien Loeb was denied a Super License in the midst of winning 50+ WRC rallies, having raced at the 24 Hours of LeMans in the prototype class, and having impressed the Red Bull team during a test. Seems counter intuitive that Kimi Raikkonen can freely go to the WRC, but Loeb a much more accomplished driver in his discipline and with some experience in circuit racing is denied an opportunity in F1. One would think that the provision allowing for exceptions would be used, but alas it was not. Even Kimi Raikkonen was almost refused a Super License back in 2001 because even though he was proving fast in testing, he had very little lower formula experience; and although it was eventually granted, it was initially on a probationary basis.

In 2006, the FIA granted Yuji Ide, a poor example of a F1 driver with the now defunct Super Aguri, a license before they revoked it after 4 races. USF1 is reportedly seeking a license for Jose Maria Lopez, a driver with a lackluster resume but has a conditional deal with the team. He has not been in single seaters since 2006.

In the next coming weeks when we get all of the F1 driver slots filled, and we have potentially drivers you never heard of, think about the basic process of just getting a license and then some of the subjective wrangling that may be associated with it.

Sauber to announce second driver next week (revised)

By Motorsport.com/GMM

Sauber will announce its second driver for the 2010 season next week. Peter Sauber, the formerly BMW-owned team's boss and founder, wrote on his Twitter page: "Second driver to be announced next week. The team is ready to work. Happy New Year." Japan's Kamui Kobayashi, a refugee of Toyota's former F1 programme, was announced as the Hinwil based team's first race driver for 2010 two weeks ago.

Team incumbent Nick Heidfeld, who was part of Sauber's outfit in collaboration with BMW since 2006, had hoped to secure the second seat at Mercedes GP. Also believed a frontrunner for the second Sauber cockpit is Pedro de la Rosa, and the Belgian Bertrand Baguette is tipped for the reserve role.

If Pedro de la Rosa is in the running he might be bringing some cash that Heidfeld or Klien can not match. However, is it not like de la Rosa is lacking in speed and skills. While at McLaren he did well in a substitute role in 2005 scoring a 5th and when replaced Juan Pablo Montoya in 2006 after the Columbian went to NASCAR. If de la Rosa's name is being mentioned, I think Heidfeld's chance to remain with Sauber are very slim. However, I am still of the opinion that Klien deserves an opportunity.

Turns out this Twitter announcement was a fake. There is no time table on a complete Sauber line-up. However, Pedro de la Rosa's name has been connected with the job, which still leads me to think if Heidfeld has not signed yet he might not be in line for the job.

Ralf Schumacher might land at Toro Rosso?

We might have another Schumacher back on the grid for 2010. Ralf Schumacher, the brother of Michael Schumacher, has refused to deny speculation linking him to a Toro Rosso drive. Ralf, 34, who still officially races with Mercedes in the DTM series, revealed he turned down an offer from one of F1's new teams. Reports said Toro Rosso, Sauber and Renault remained possibilities for a return to the sport for Schumacher.

In 2009, STR had a pair of young drivers, Sebastien Buemi and Jamie Alguersuari. Buemi has been retained for next season, but the 19 year old Alguersuari's future is less certain. The practice of leaving drivers swinging in the wind is not uncommon for STR. They did the same thing to previous drivers Scott Speed and Sebastien Bourdais. However, in this case the indications is at worst he may be regulated to testing duites again, which in this era does not guarantee he will develop as a driver.

In returning to Schumacher, he knows Toro Rosso's team principal Franz Tost well not only from their days at Williams, but from when Tost managed Ralf's early pre-F1career in the mid 1990's. Tost was also employed by Ralf's former manager Willi Weber to look after the driver when he entered F1 with Jordan in 1997, and subsequently switched to Williams in 1999.

Admittedly the move of retaining a veteran driver for STR would make some sense. They are currently in the process of constructing their very own car for the first time and may need the experience to help develop the car. Clearly, experience is something that Buemi and Alguersuari do not have. However, why that choice would be Ralf Schumacher who has not been in F1 since 2007 and has been an also-ran in the DTM is a mystery. There will be new rules and new tires that Ralf would need to contend with and the fact that he did not cover himself in any glory at the end of his F1 career. First, he quit Toyota, then was curiously overlooked by Toro Rosso and then when testing for Force India, he was the slowest of the drivers they had scheduled. So, is it the relationship or does Ralf actually have anything left for a return to F1. I guess we will see.

No Nick Heidfeld at Sauber

As drivers jockey for position during this off-season's edition of music chairs, one person that I think needs a change of scenery is Nick Heidfeld. As I have said in the past, he has always been a driver that people regard as talented but always lacked a good car. He has demonstrated that he can be quick, consistent and reliable. Nick has done a solid job for BMW-Sauber and his performance in 2009 still confirms that. In years past I would say he needs to go away entirely, but now with an influx of new teams, he would be still useful. I just do not want it to be at Sauber.

I think that Sauber needs to redevelop his team and bring it back to the days of getting young talented drivers and giving them a shot to perform in a competitive team (Nick Heidfeld was actually one of those type of drivers for Sauber). Having Kamui Kobayashi as one driver is perfect. The other choice is someone that I have advocated for in the past and now Bernie Ecclestone would like to see, Christian Klien.

Klien, 26, has been the team's test driver for the past two years as well as performing well as a Peugeot sportscar driver; and now I think with his sportscar experience coupled with spending 3 seasons as a test driver the timing is perfect. Just as Toyota was wise to give Timo Glock a chance after being out of F1 for a period, Sauber would be wise to give Klien a shot.

What about Heidfeld? Well it is interesting to see that his name has not been connected publicly to any other team but Sauber. Maybe a new team that is getting off the ground would find a driver with his experience useful. A team that has done its business so far very quietly. Maybe USF1 is destination that would suit Heidfeld.

http://formulaoneamerica.blogspot.com/2008/08/case-against-nick-heidfeld.html

BBC: Schumacher is back with Mercedes

According to the BBC, seven-times Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher will come out of retirement to race for Mercedes next year. The German, who will be 41 on January 3rd, has signed a contract and the deal will be announced imminently. Schumacher will partner compatriot Nico Rosberg in the team that won the drivers' and constructors' titles in 2009 in its former guise as Brawn.

Schumacher will reportedly earn $9.9m USD (£6.2m) after signing up to reunite with Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn, who masterminded all seven of his titles, the first two with Benetton in 1994 and 1995 and the subsequent five with Ferrari from 2000-2004.

Schumacher is known to have had medical checks recently and it must be assumed he has been given the all clear.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8427552.stm

Alonso is prepared to dispatch his rivals

Two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso says he is arriving at the Ferrari team at the best moment of his career which probably means very bad news for his rivals. "I'm really looking forward to the start of next year. I'm joining the best team in the world, Ferrari, and I'm arriving at the best moment of my career. Right now I feel like I've never felt before. I think I'm at my best moment as a driver and as a person." Alonso appears to be really psyching himself up to do great things in 2010. He has now said on multiple occasions that he is driving better than he ever has.

We already know that during his career, Alonso has been regarded as a very good team leader and excellent car developer; qualities that have been spoken about at each of his stints at Renault, McLaren and now Ferrari. However, he has been rocked with problems that have tainted his reputation and clouded the fact that he is the most complete driver in F1. Most notable examples of these transgressions are his behavior at McLaren in 2007 in connection with McLaren industrial espionage case (Spygate) as well as potential involvement in the race fixing scandal of the 2008 Singapore GP (Crashgate). Although Alonso never was implicated, there are people that believe he had to know...including his new teammate, Felipe Massa.

Nevertheless, getting a little older, enduring challenges and defeat can certainly humble you and make you better; provided you have the mental strength. Alonso over his career has shown he has those capabilities. At age 28, he has the right mix of experience and youth to reassert himself against the likes of Hamilton, Vettel, Massa and Button (and Schumacher if he returns). He certainly did it before when he beat Raikkonen and Schuamcher in successive years to win his title in 2005 and 2006.

So with Alonso clearly motivated, Ferrari motivated to rebound from 2009, and with rules changes that can possibility play into Alonso's race approach, challengers better be prepared.

http://formulaoneamerica.blogspot.com/2008/08/da-professor-driver-files-fernando.html

Prost Part Two Potential at Renault

With second generation drivers of last era have participated in Formula One with some increase, the names of the past in Rosberg, Senna, Piquet and Nakajima are names that have returned in recent years. Now it may only be a matter of time until the Prost name is reintroduced to the Formula One world if reports are to be believed.

French language media reports are linking Alain Prost's son, Nicholas Prost with a possible role as a reserve driver for the Renault team in 2010. The not so young Prost in racing terms (28 years old)has driven in A1GP, the LeMans Series with mixed results but in 2008 he was the Euroseries champion. Like his father, Nicolas had gotten off to a late start in racing but has not shown the the instant form of his 4 time World Champion father.

The question is, what is in it for Renault? It may definitely help developing some publicity for the team, a reconnection and reaffirmation of the team's French roots, and money is sure to be in that mix. After Nicolas won the Euroseries title, Alain Prost lobbied to get his son a F1 test with no success. However, now he may have the opportunity to continue his development with a proper role.

http://formulaoneamerica.blogspot.com/2008/12/prost-wants-f1-test-for-son.html

Nevertheless, it would be a great to have another of the legendary names of Formula One in the mix, even it is a reserve driver. One never knows the opportunities that come with it. Kamui Kobayashi anyone?

Forever Young, Rubens Barrichello

One look at Rubens Barrichello and you would never know that his first F1 race was in 1993, the last connection to the era of Prost and Senna; not to mention future title winners Damon Hill and a young Michael Schumacher. In a span now running on 17 years Barrichello has shown that he is as good and as quick as ever with little signs of letting up.

At age 20, Rubens debuted during a period where it was not very common to have such a young driver on the grid, and conversely he has managed to hang on in the current era where drivers are getting increasingly younger and 19 or 20 years old drivers is not so out of the box. Currently he is the most experienced Grand Prix driver and holds the record for the most F1 starts. Moreover, Barrichello is a driver that has shown he is mentally stronger and more disciplined than anyone would probably give him credit for. He is as physically fit as ever, which is needed to battle the laws of physics and punishing G-forces as well as the much younger drivers.

There have been moments where people thought he should have retired. After 2007 where he failed to score points for the first time in his career could have been an opportunity to drop him. During the trauma at Honda with their eventual departure, it is was a very real possibility that the nephew of the late, great 3 time World Champion Ayrton Senna, Bruno Senna would replace him for 2009. However, Ross Brawn stuck with the proven, known variable.

Well respected for his ability in variable weather conditions and good technical understanding of car development, Barrichello has proven his worth over his long career. By in large, his technical attributes were understandably overlooked during his time at Ferrari where he partnered one of the great car developers in Michael Schumacher. When Barrichello first arrived at Honda in 2006 it was expected that he would contribute to the car development side. However, seemingly his skills were not as appreciated. Examples of where his skills were challenged or outright ignored ranged from the traction control, brakes, to the data that was being collected by the wind tunnel.

With the addition of Ross Brawn for the 2008 season, there was no doubt that his experience would be properly utilized. The most recent confirmation of his abilities is from the 2009 F1 World Champion and now former teammate, Jenson Button. He remarked that "Rubens has a fantastic understanding of what makes a car work, better than any other driver I've seen; and quite often that has helped me." Although the performance of the Brawn race car can be attributed to the controversial double diffuser, the development work done in 2008 helped to make the BGP 001 a race and title winner. Rubens solidly played a role in that.

In 2010 Barrichello will be driving for Williams partnering a young but talented Nico Hulkenberg, and no doubt "the driver that needs no introduction" (the words of team principal Frank Williams) Rubens will be the lead driver in trying to develop the car's package. Williams over the past several years have gotten off to good starts, but then fade a bit during the season as other teams develop their cars. With the addition of Barrichello we should look to see if that changes. However, one thing that will not change for the foreseeable future is we will have Rubens Barrichello driving in another Grand Prix.