The F1 2010 Drivers Market: An Update

(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Since my last article into how the 2010 drivers market was shaping up, BMW's shock pull-out after just four seasons as a constructor, Fernando Alonso's impending move to Ferrari and the official confirmation of the three new teams has thrown the 2010 drivers market wide open.

Starting with last season's champions McLaren, Lewis Hamilton will be staying put.  Any chance of Hamilton leaving after the 'spy-gate' saga in Melbourne has been diminished and McLaren’s return to winning ways in Hungary and general competitiveness will leave them in very good stead for 2010.

His team-mate, however, is a point of much discussion in F1 circles.  The smart money is on 23-year-old Nico Rosberg, a German which would please engine supplier Mercedes, someone who is very media friendly, and above all, quick. 

Rosberg has been 2009's Mr. Consistency, failing to finish in the points only twice.  Add to this the fact that Rosberg and Hamilton are good friends off the circuit having been team-mates in the junior formulae and it seems to be the logical choice for team boss Martin Whitmarsh. 

However, the withdrawal of BMW has placed Robert Kubica on the driver market and this may well have made McLaren think again. 

Kubica is a proven race winner having won in Montreal last year, and showed his ability throughout last season, including leading the championship after Montreal, and being voted many people's driver of the year for 2008. 

However, has his poor 2009 season hampered his chances?  Not so long ago, he was being touted as a future world champion, but his lacklustre performances this season where he has been out-scored and in many ways out-performed by team-mate Nick Heidfeld, have appeared to make him a less viable option for the top teams. 

Of course, there is the other possibility of retaining Heikki Kovalainen, but this is now seeming to be increasingly unlikely, particularly after Martin Whitmarsh told the media that Kovalainen must 'up his game' if he is to continue with McLaren for 2010. 

If the 'silly season' rumours are to be believed, then we could see a McLaren return for either Fernando Alonso or Kimi Raikkonen, but the likelihood of Alonso returning after his acrimonious split at the end of 2007 is hugely unlikely; whilst Kimi Raikkonen's apparent disillusionment with F1 will almost certainly see him in the WRC for 2010. 

My money, therefore, is on a Lewis Hamilton & Nico Rosberg partnership.

At Ferrari, it seems only a matter of when, rather than if Fernando Alonso and Spanish sponsor Santander is confirmed at Ferrari for 2010 and beyond, and thus allowing the drivers market to really take off. 

However, Felipe Massa's freak accident in Hungary may well have forced Ferrari to reconsider its plans for 2010. 

If Massa is not recovered in time for the 2010 season, Ferrari will still wish to have a top level driver in the team as it gears up to challenge for the world championship. 

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