Given how we're near the end of the season and it's been made pretty friggin obvious where the Championship trophies are going (hint: it's Brackley), most eyes in the mad mad world of F1 are looking to next year and I figured I'd do the same. So for a bit of fun I decided to do a prediction on the driver lineups for next year.
My predictions are based on a combination of already confirmed lineups, what teams are most likely to do and what's I think would be in the best interests of each team. Feel free to submit your own prediction in the comments.
MERCEDES
1 - Lewis Hamilton
6 - Nico Rosberg
RED BULL
3 - Daniel Ricciardo
26 - Daniil Kvyat
WILLIAMS
77 - Valtteri Bottas
19 - Felipe Massa
FERRARI
7 - Kimi Raikkonen
5 - Sebastian Vettel
McLAREN
22 - Jenson Button
14 - Fernando Alonso
FORCE INDIA
11 - Sergio Perez
27 - Nico Hulkenberg
TORO ROSSO
?? - Max Verstappen
?? - Carlos Sainz Jr.
LOTUS
13 - Pastor Maldonado
20 - Kevin Magnussen
MARUSSIA
4 - Max Chilton
?? - Alexander Rossi
SAUBER
21 - Esteban Gutierrez
9 - Marcus Ericsson
2014 DRIVERS OUT OF SEATS
Romain Grosjean - Ferrari reserve hoping to claim 2016 race seat
Adrian Sutil - DTM
Jean-Eric Vergne - Red Bull test driver
My Predicted 2015 Driver Line-Up
posted on 23/10/14
Tall and Useless I think you must change your supplier, what in the name did you just say?? Button in a McLaren next year. Wishful thinking my friend!
posted on 24/10/14
It's actually a pretty logical choice.
Button and Alonso are both smooth and intelligent drivers so both would benefit from a car designed with this in mind.
Both are vastly experienced which will br valuable with the ban on in-race coaching next year.
Both are world champions, which would make the high-profile lineup that Honda want.
posted on 24/10/14
I think though that Honda and Mclaren want a mixture. Calm on one side of the garage and more of a risk taker on the other.
I can see either Button or Alonso in WEC with MW.
Still wouldn't rule out Honda paying Mega bucks to get Lewis back.
posted on 24/10/14
Very true.
There is talk of Alonso taking a year out next year with the hope of landing a seat at Mercedes in 2016.
posted on 24/10/14
And Tall, if something happens between now and the end of the season which hands the title to Rosberg, and Hamilton sees it as interference from Mercedes, I can see a return to Mclaren next year.
If Hamilton wins I guess he will stay put for another 2 or 3 years.
posted on 24/10/14
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 24/10/14
It would be an absolute travesty if reliability decides this title. Hamilton has won more than double the races his team mate has won. What Bernie and the teams did was very stupid.
That being said, Mercedes will do all they can to make sure their cars stay reliable for the remaining races. As a Hamilton fan the race that troubles me the most is Brazil. If he can win there, or just beat Rosberg, I would finally be confident he will win his second title.
It would be foolish for Hamilton to leave Mercedes and they would not let him go, he is extremely valuable to their brand
posted on 24/10/14
On a separate note, thinking about doing an article about Mercedes Benz reliability.
To the writers cave!!