Kubica signs for Renault

[noisebox]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 293650.stm

[Tealy]

Good move for Renault, I'm not too sure if its the right move for Kubica though, I feel he could do much better. Here's hoping that next year's Renault is competitive.

[jackanderton]

Good deal for Renault, lucky there's such a quick driver knocking about in a soon to be defunct team. If Grosjean stays on, presumably he can look forward to being shafted further as the team continues to pour all their resources into one car.

[Captain Hammer]

I'm not too sure if its the right move for Kubica though, I feel he could do much better.

Like where?

Ferrari? Taken.

McLaren? Probably taken, though rumour suggests Raikkonen may go to Red Bull.

Red Bull? Taken.

Brawn? Will likely get Rosberg in and will probably keep Button.

Williams? Barrichello and Hulkenberg.

So where, exacty, could Kubica go? He won't go to one of the new teams because he wants to be a title contender. He sure as hell won't touch Toro Rosso, and Force India's successes have been here and there; they're not regular contenders at the front. QADBAK doesn't even have an entry. Did I miss anyone?

No, I didn't. What it really came down to for Kubica was either Toyota or Renault. And at least Renault know how to win.

[Captain Hammer]

I can't verify this, but I have heard some of the terms of Kubica's contract. It basically came down to a choice between Renault, Toyota and Williams. He elected to sign with Renault because of the following:

- A long-term contract that would allow development and co-operation with the team.

- The name of his race engineer was apparently appealing.

- The identity of the team's second driver (although Renault have said they could wait until January before signing someone ... I'm interpreting ths as meaning they're looking for a newcomer and/or that there will be a clear distinction between drivers based on experience)

- The personnel of the team are apparently people he likes.

- The quality of the engines on offer (the Renault unit is the ayrdstickfor engine equilisation).

- The achievements of the team (Reanult have had more recent experience with winning regularly than Williams and Toyota - obviously - have).

- Stabilty (Renault apaprently have no intentions of withdrawing; if I were them, I'd want to clear my name at the least).

He apparently decided not to go with Toyota because the haven't managed to win - Kubica was expected to be a title contender this season - and the future of the team remains uncertain. Meanwhile, he decided against Williams because their engine situation is very much up in the air; they might go with Renault, they could get Mercedes if they swap Rosberg and Barrichello, they're apparently thinking about the Cosworths, and they could be forced to keep the Toyotas if nothing can be worked out.

[Jordan192]

rumour suggests Raikkonen may go to Red Bull.

Snuck that one in there, didn't you? That would be pretty huge if true.

I guess that would be pushing Webber out, most likely end result of that would see him at Toyota?

That may not be as bad for Webber as it sounds (Proven race winner, would be definite focus of the team), though it does seem unlikely,

[Captain Hammer]

rumour suggests Raikkonen may go to Red Bull.

Snuck that one in there, didn't you? If that would be pretty huge if true.

Did I?

Raikkonen to Red Bull, Renault to oust Grosjean?

07/10/09 - 09:16

As expected, the confirmation of Fernando Alonso's move to Ferrari turned the key to kick-starting the 2010 driver market.

Much of the specialist Formula One media waited in vain throughout Tuesday for the announcement of Robert Kubica's move to Renault, but the French daily L'Equipe reports that the deal will actually be unveiled on Wednesday.

The hottest new rumour is that McLaren and Toyota are not alone in pushing for Kimi Raikkonen. Germany's Sport Bild reports contact between the Finn's management and Red Bull Racing, despite the fact that Mark Webber was recently put under contract for the 2010 season.

"We are negotiating even with teams that everybody thinks have no vacancies,” admitted Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson.

Another new rumour is that Renault, even after replacing Fernando Alonso with Kubica, is also on the lookout for a team-mate for the 24-year-old Pole.

It is believed team management are not keen on the underperforming rookie Romain Grosjean, who was championed by the disgraced former boss Flavio Briatore.

It is believed Nick Heidfeld is near the top of the list for the drive, after the veteran German matched up alongside the highly rated Kubica at BMW Sauber this year.

However, it is understood that Renault is prepared to wait much longer - for instance until January of next year - to confirm the identity of the second driver. Also in the frame to replace Grosjean are Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil.

Williams is planning an all-new line-up of reigning GP2 champion and rookie Nico Hulkenberg alongside Rubens Barrichello, with the latter Brazilian to be replaced at Brawn by Nico Rosberg.

Likely to be left standing at the end of the musical chairs are drivers like Heikki Kovalainen, Kazuki Nakajima, Jarno Trulli and Grosjean, who may need to look at some of the incoming teams for employment.

I always tell the truth.

Even when I'm lying.

I guess that would be pushing Webber out, most likely end result of that would see him at Toyota?
That may not be as bad for Webber as it sounds (Proven race winner, would be defnite focus of the eam), though it does seem unlikely,

Not necessarily. Webber has shown he can still be competitive, and if Raikkonen goes to Red Bull, there's still that McLaren drive that would be left open by his absence. Out of all the other drivers who would be on the market - Nakajima, Kovalainen, Trulli, Grosjean and possibly Heidfeld - where do you think Webber would stack up?

Plus, being team-mates with Hamilton would create an Ashes-on-Wheels.

[lostpin]

Let's hope that Kubica delivers... let's hope even more that Renault delivers what Kubica needs, in which I strongly doubt...

[Tealy]

Well if Raikonnen does go to Red Bull then Kubica could have gone to McLaren then

But in all seriousness I thought teams like McLaren and Brawn would be looking into signing Kubica rather than just Toyota, WIlliams and Renault showing interest.

[Yannick]

If (and big if there) Raikkonen were indeed to join RBR, they still have Webber under contract, so he might either join Buemi at Toro Rosso or being let go. He has proven this year that he's got what it takes to win, so Toyota surely would be interested. But McLaren could be as well. And he's been a Mercedes driver before, way back when the "Silver Arrow" flipped him at LeMans.
Webber clearly has been outperforming Heidfeld this year, so he'd be higher on McLaren's list.

Might Kubica be partnered by Vitaly Petrov, who brings sponsorship? Or would Renault prefer bringing back Trulli or Kovalainen?

[Thunderer]

The identity of the team's second driver (although Renault have said they could wait until January before signing someone ... I'm interpreting ths as meaning they're looking for a newcomer and/or that there will be a clear distinction between drivers based on experience)

Now that Flav the Flab is out of the way, I'd like to see Renault scrap the way he always had one Main driver and the other in a somewhat 'inferior' role just like in the days of Alonso and M. Schumacher. Grosjean has not impressed this season and I wouldn't rule out Renault signing another well experienced driver to partner Kubica depending on how Bob Bell (or a potential sucessor) calls the shots in future.

[jackanderton]

How is Grosjean 'underperforming'? He's doing as badly as everyone thought he would.

[Tealy]

How is Grosjean 'underperforming'? He's doing as badly as everyone thought he would.

That's just it isn't it, all of the mid-season replacements have struggled so we really don't know how any of them are really going to perform with a full winter's testing under their belts. I suspect Liuzzi has flattered to deceive a little in this respect compared to Grrrrrsssjjjnnnn and Alguersuari as he has past F1 experience to fall back on.

I still think Renault would be better off picking up Kovalinen or another driver of similar stature/ability to be number 2 to Kubica.