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As the season approaches its climax, speculation is rife surrounding driver
line-ups for 2007. Although some seats have been confirmed, there is still a
lot to play for in the paddock - not least because the biggest name in
Formula One racing, Michael Schumacher, has yet to announce his plans for the
future. As the rumour mill steps up a gear, we run through this year’s major
movers and stayers…
It was Fernando Alonso who, back in December, kicked off the annual driver
merry-go-round when he announced he would leave Renault for McLaren in 2007.
In June, Renault confirmed Giancarlo Fisichella would be staying put, but it
remains a mystery as to who will fill Alonso’s vacant seat. Although McLaren
’s Kimi Raikkonen is the biggest name to be linked to the drive, rumours of
a possible seat-swap with Alonso seem premature, especially as Raikkonen
remains tight-lipped about his future. Renault’s current test driver Heikki
Kovalainen is another Finn waiting in the wings. He is well regarded by the
team, and with Mark Webber - who is managed by Renault boss Flavio Briatore -
now confirmed elsewhere, he must be a favourite for the drive.
Everything at Ferrari remains dependant on Michael Schumacher. The German’s
much talked about retirement has yet to materialize (although a decision is
expected in Monza in September) and many now suspect he is not quite ready to
hang up his race helmet after all. But if he does end up going? Kimi
Raikkonen - with Alonso off the market, clearly this year’s favoured driver
- has been whispered to be Ferrari’s preferred replacement, whilst Felipe
Massa, who has so far impressed the team with competitive performances, would
surely stay on as second driver. And if Schumacher stays? It remains to be
seen whether he would prefer to again pair up with the cooperative Brazilian,
or instead take on the challenge of the feisty Finn. The latter option may
not seem Schumacher’s conventional style, but if he does win an eighth
drivers’ title this year, then he may well relish a fresh challenge.
Another big drive still up for grabs is the McLaren seat alongside Alonso.
But any speculation there relies on the assumption that Raikkonen will
definitely leave the team once the Spaniard arrives. This is by no means
certain as the Finn may yet decide to stay and fight the current champion for
supremacy within the team. If Raikkonen does head elsewhere there is always a
chance that Juan Pablo Montoya’s stand-in, Pedro de la Rosa may stay on as
race driver for 2007. However, rookies Gary Paffett - McLaren tester - and
Lewis Hamilton - team protege and GP2 championship leader - are also in the
running. In theory, either of them could make a maiden Grand Prix appearance
this season, and were they to impress sufficiently, De la Rosa could yet find
himself relegated back to testing duties.
Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello are contracted to stay on for Honda in
2007 and as the team’s performance improves, there is no reason to expect
either driver to make an impromptu exit. The same applies at Toyota, where
Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher have been confirmed to stay on, taking their
solid partnership into a third successive season.
But more changes are afoot at BMW Sauber, with the announcement that Jacques
Villeneuve will no longer race for the team after his absence at the recent
Hungarian Grand Prix. With the French-Canadian gone, Nick Heidfeld, whose
drive has been confirmed, could pair up with Robert Kubica, after the Polish
driver’s successful maiden race at the Hungaroring. The team have also
tested German youngster Sebastian Vettel this year, but his limited Formula
One experience means he is unlikely to challenge Kubica for the seat. That
doesn’t mean another driver couldn’t, though.
After an impressive debut season, German rookie Nico Rosberg is staying put
for a second year at Williams and, in light of Mark Webber’s imminent
departure, the team’s test driver Alexander Wurz will finally return to
racing in 2007 after a six-year testing hiatus.
Webber leaves Williams to race alongside David Coulthard at Red Bull. The man
Webber replaces, Christian Klien, may well be left without a Formula One
drive next year. Red Bull have made no suggestion of Klien moving to the
company’s ‘B team’, Toro Rosso. They seem pretty happy with their current
line-up of Scott Speed and Vitantonio Liuzzi, though neither has been
confirmed for 2007. Of course, Red Bull also have a whole stable of young
talent in their junior squad, but whether any of them are ready to make the
step up to Formula One racing is uncertain. Among them, GP2 star Michael
Ammermuller would be the likely favourite.
Midland’s driver line-up remains up in the air. Paddock rumours concerning a
possible buyout of the team by Dutch company Lost Boys have gone quiet in
recent weeks. They had prompted speculation that Dutch incumbent Christijan
Albers would stay on to be partnered by compatriot Robert Doornbos, currently
third driver at Red Bull. Now, with both Albers and 2006 team mate Tiago
Monteiro having impressed this season, anything looks possible.
That leaves Super Aguri, with just number-one driver Takuma Sato so far
confirmed for 2007. It’s no secret the team would prefer an all-Japanese
line-up, though they say it is not essential. Sato’s current team mate,
Sakon Yamamoto, has had little chance to prove his worth yet, with technical
problems prompting early retirements in his two Grands Prix to date. Should
he not be retained, then long-term Honda tester Anthony Davidson would have
to considered a potential candidate.
As always at this time of the season, we should be in for a fascinating few
weeks as the missing pieces in the 2007 driver puzzle gradually fall into
place
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F1官方網站的新聞 沒什麼特別的 充滿不確定
之前也都有提到
讓我最驚訝的 是標題...
Who goes where in 2007?....orz
--
You think you have a limit and you'd better go for this limit and
you touch the limit. OK, this is the limit. As soon you touch this
limit, something happens to you: Suddenly you can go a little bit
further. With your mind power, your determination, Your instinct
and your experience as well.
You can fly very high ~Ayrton Senna da Silva
--
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