The Big Picture
The driver market continues to be the topic of conversation for Formula 1 as the season leaves Europe for 2013. Speculation over who will partner Alonso at Ferrari has been the main topic since Red Bull announced the sports worst kept secret that Ricciardo was heading for the main team from young driver programme Torro Rosso. The move was evident, as why would Red Bull move to bring anyone that might challenge their precious Vettel, and such a move would suggest that Torro Rosso wasn't producing drivers good enough for the step up. Ricciardo is a promising driver, but will likely not be afforded much opportunity to succeed even if he makes the grade. With that closed, everyone has looked to Ferrari and Raikkonen, with much said about him returning to the Italian outfit as he seeks a more competitive team for 2014. With Mercedes and Red Bull closed, it would only be Ferrari offering such a position as he seeks to move from Lotus, shadowed by doubts about their funding for 2014. Raikkonen has shown himself admirably in his return to the sport, arguably far better than he did before he left the sport in 2009, and deserving of a top drive. But I still fail to see that Ferrari, who paid a monumental amount to get rid of him four years ago, would take him back now, especially since he would be no supportive number two driver to Alonso in the way that Massa is. Ferrari need to justify their budget though, and perhaps bringing back their last world champion would help that. For Felipe Massa, so cruelly denied in 2008, he will never again race for another team as good as Ferrari if he moves on. But if he stays, he won't get a shot at the title, unless Alonso's engine goes in every race and his doesn't or something else similarly bizarre. Since the Spaniard arrived, Ferrari is no longer the nurturing, supportive environment built with Schumacher in 2006, and sustained with the apathetic Raikkonen through 2007, 8 and 9. For his own good, perhaps moving on would be the best thing for him, to a team like Force India or McLaren, where their far more supportive and team driven environments might let him flourish again. Personally, I would love to see Massa partner Button at McLaren, but I have no idea if Martin Whitmarsh would agree with me. Aside from them, there's also the young drivers desperate to move up; people like Hulkenberg, Di Resta and Sutil are all promising young drivers that have proved their worth, and all current or former Force India drivers actually. They seek to pick up a move like Perez managed to McLaren. Other drivers behind like Pic and Bianchi, performing well with their respective machinery, and 2012 race winner Maldonado, will hope for a chance to move up into the seats those above might vacate. Equally though, they will also potentially be trying to hold onto their drives for 2014. With such competition and raft of pay drivers in Formula 1 now, a good solid driver like Maldonado can soon find himself without a drive. Others simply haven't shown themselves well enough such as Gutierrez and Bottas, who despite the stunning wet third place on the grid in Canada has been mostly out-performed by Maldonado in the same Williams. With an announcement imminent on the Ferrari seat, more moves and rumours are sure to seep out in the next couple of races.