As with most forms of motorsport, F1 has its silly season where rumors fly about drivers moving from one team to another. The odd thing about the silly season in 2009 is many of the rumors may come true now that BMW has given up the ghost in Formula One.
BMW will stop participating in Formula One after the end of the 2009 season. That means the two drivers for the team, Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld, will be free agents and available to any team. While the BMW Sauber Team may be sold to an independent investor, you can be sure both drivers have clauses in their contracts voiding their deals if that happens. Regardless, their availability shakes things up in Formula One.
Robert Kubica is clearly the prize in this case. The Pole has had a horrible 2009 season, but it is clear the problem is the car. While Kubica has whined more than a bit, his talent is unmistakable. Heidfeld, in turn, is more of a steady driver than anything. He isn’t going to charge to a win, but isn’t going to kill you either. He is the German equivalent of Rubens Barrichello, a solid number two driver.
Who will benefit from the driver madness? All bets point to Renault cleaning up. It is expected that Fernando Alonso will leave Renault for Ferrari at the end of the season. The second seat at Renault will also be open as the Piquet experience is put to rest. That means two open seats. One can expect to see either of Heidfeld or Kubica at Renault, probably Kubica.
McLaren fans are undoubtedly thinking Kubica might be a good fit for their team. It is doubtful he will end up at McLaren. Lewis Hamilton has proved he is a great driver, but also proved that like Michael Schumacher, he needs to be the focus of the team. Kubica is not going to put up with being a number two driver, so it seems more likely Nico Rosberg or Hiedfeld could end up at McLaren.
Toyota represents a wild card in all of this. Timo Glock appears to be a driver with a future. Jarno Trulli does not. Toyota has always missed out on its driver selections. Now is a chance to get it right. Bringing in Robert Kubica to team with Timo Glock would be a brilliant move. It could happen, but one has to wonder how enthused Kubica would be about going to a team that has never won in Formula One.
What about Felipe Massa? His incredibly unlucky accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix has left him out for the season. A fractured skull is no laughing matter and one has to wonder if he will be back in 2010. He is the leader of Ferrari, however, so he will be given every chance to make a comeback given his exemplar conduct the last two years compared to his erstwhile teammate. In short, expect a Massa-Alonso Ferrari lineup in 2010 unless Massa cannot go.
The F1 silly season got just a bit sillier given the withdrawal of BMW from the sport. Rumors persist that Toyota and Renault may leave as well. If that happens, it will be complete chaos!