Official F1 Silly Season 2012 thread

Skeeter said:
I'm fairly sure that both HRT and both Marussia drivers are paying for their seat
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Fairly sure Pedro doesn't have Repsol support anymore, you're about 12 years out of date ;) He may have personal sponsors that he draws a wage from but I haven't seen anything to suggest he contributes financially to the Hispania team.

Also, Glock was never a pay driver by any stretch unless you think Deutsche Post were sponsoring him personally as opposed to Jordan? Why would he pay to drive that bucket of bolts anyway?

Skeeter said:
With the Williams suddenly back up the sharp(er) end, Maldonado is suddenly buying his way into a decent seat.
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Why not complain about Bruno Senna as well? He pays and is complete ****. Much as I dislike PM, he has at least delivered some results.
 
Senna brings significantly less money to Williams than Pastor. He also isn't buying his way out of loosing his super license either, whereas Pastor is well on his way to that.

Its not about having 1 sponsor that pays your way either, its about having a portfolio of sponsors that you bring to a team as part of a package. It spreads a lot further up the grid than you might think.

I think the only driver in the 'new' teams that is paid is Heikki. I don't know about the Toro Rosse guys, its a different sort of setup there. I'm fairly certain Kobayashi's seat is backed by Japanese investment (it definitely got him into F1 to start with). Both Senna and Pastor pay for their seats. Don't know if Perez is propped up with Ferrari money. Di Resta's seat is 'paid for' by Merc and their engine deal. It really is only the top few teams where the drivers are paid for their skills alone and their sponsorship is earnings on top.
 
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Skeeter said:
Senna brings significantly less money to Williams than Pastor. He also isn't buying his way out of loosing his super license either, whereas Pastor is well on his way to that.
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The FIA is doing nothing about it which is equally stupid.

Skeeter said:
Its not about having 1 sponsor that pays your way either, its about having a portfolio of sponsors that you bring to a team as part of a package. It spreads a lot further up the grid than you might think.
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You're confusing pay drivers with drivers that attract sponsorship based on merit or are based in a team sponsor's target market (the Jordan issue I referred to). Di Resta beat Vettel to the F3 Euroseries title but had to waste 4 years in DTM (gaining that title and several wins) before he got a Force India drive. I'd hardly call that buying his way in.

Skeeter said:
I think the only driver in the 'new' teams that is paid is Heikki.
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Williams is the only team with two pure pay drivers. Yeah, Santander effectively back Alonso for example, but only after he became successful. The only sponsor associated with him back in his rookie Minardi days was Leaseplan and even then it was relatively insignificant.
 
Santander back Alonso, but he also takes a wage from Ferrari.

Its this 'getting paid by the team' rather than being paid out of the sponsor money you bring to the team that differentiates them.
 
Skeeter said:
Santander back Alonso, but he also takes a wage from Ferrari.
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Yeah, which is why I provided an example. You're acting as though half the grid wouldn't be driving without sponsors tied to them. Even the RB program drivers achieved success in Formula 3 and WSR before getting their seats at Toro Rosso. Alguersuari had Repsol sponsorship that went into the team but he was booted regardless along with Buemi.

Skeeter said:
Its this 'getting paid by the team' rather than being paid out of the sponsor money you bring to the team that differentiates them.
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F1's an expensive sport (needlessly so in my opinion) but that does not make half of the grid ride buyers. I've said elsewhere on this forum that Perez has substantial backing that aided his lower formulae campaign and F1 ascension, and lamented the fact that Guerreri didn't get a chance, but that doesn't mean Perez is there solely on $$$.
 
Yeah, of course its not clean cut, but its part of the whole picture. I think Maldonado replacing Hulkenburg is the only real instance of a big fat cheque securing a seat on its own.

It's the situations where drivers who bring more money get the seats over the guys who are quicker that grates on me though. Especially when its public money from a government desperate to convince the rest of the world that all is well. I have a Venezuelan work mate and he's appauled at what the government is doing. It goes much deeper than just F1 too.

Pay seats have always been part of F1. It's just a shame when it become the most important factor in who's on the grid.

But anyway, back on topic, there's an article on Autosport about Ferrari getting defensive about Massa ans saying he's part of the family. Talk that is suggesting he might be staying? Or them just keeping him sweet before giving him the chop?
 
I heard that Paul Di Resta got paid £150,000 in his second year with Force India. not sure about the first year and I'd assume he's being paid this year as well.
 
Skeeter said:
I'm fairly certain Kobayashi's seat is backed by Japanese investment (it definitely got him into F1 to start with). Both Senna and Pastor pay for their seats. Don't know if Perez is propped up with Ferrari money. Di Resta's seat is 'paid for' by Merc and their engine deal. It really is only the top few teams where the drivers are paid for their skills alone and their sponsorship is earnings on top.
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Most drivers bring sponsorship to the teams. The way is works is that a driver will have personal sponsors who then pay the team. The team then pay the salary.

When Toyota pulled out, Panasonic were offering $30m to any team taking on Kobayashi
 
Thinking further down the field, are we likely to see many changes in the lower teams?

I've not heard any real talk about GP2 drivers progressing.

Bottas looks to be circling Senna's seat, but I expect that will come down to money.

Bianchi looks to be lined up for a Force India seat if and when one of their drivers moves on.

Other than that... nothing seems to really be happening. Expect the usual shuffle at the back as Marussia and HRT grab whoever arrives with the biggest cheque, but the midfield looks fairly stable.
 
Nothing can be as bad as Leggard and his two tombola approach.

"The latesr rumour in the paddock is that... *spin, spin, pull name out*.... Hamilton will be joining.... *spin, spin, pull team out*..... HRT next season!"
 
Mr Men said:
Fast Heikki?
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Well, how many drivers called Heikki are there in F1 right now?

He's been dubbed "Fast Heikki" in some parts after a speed trap table showed him as having taken a corner at well over 100kph faster than anyone else.
It's a joke; he recorded the speed in question because he completely failed to brake for the corner and went off the track.
 
Was it him who jumped to the top of the times in testing at Barcelona by over a second, before it was revealed he had just straight lined the chicane :p

In all seriousness though, he has done a very solid job at Caterham. Not worthy of a spot in Ferrari by a long way, but definitely somewhere like Sauber or Force India...
 
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