F1 2012: Drivers line-up

The 2011 Formula One season is over and the teams are now gearing up for the next season. The top teams have confirmed their drivers line-up for the next season but the situation with mid-rung teams and smaller teams is yet to be resolved.

Teams like Force India and Williams F1 have not confirmed their drivers for the next season, although at least one driver from each team holds a contract till end of the 2012. Lotus-Renault has announced the signing of Kimi Raikkonen and there are three other drivers in the line for the second car, despite Vitaly Petrov holding a contract to 2012.

2012 Driver Line-Up:

Red Bull Racing:

1. Sebastian Vettel
2. Mark Webber

Mark Webber has extended his contract for another year and will once again team-up with the double world champion Vettel. Vettel holds a contract till the end of 2014 season.

McLaren:

1. Jenson Button
2. Lewis Hamilton

The all British team has paired two former world champions and is completely satisfied with the drivers’ performance. Jenson has signed a multi-year deal recently, while Lewis holds a contract for the 2012 season, with some reports suggesting that he wishes to extend his stay with the British team but nothing is confirmed yet.

Ferrari:

1. Fernando Alonso
2. Felipe Massa.

The Italian prancing horse, has signed Fernando Alonso till the end of 2016 season. It seems like Fernando will end his career at Ferrari. Felipe holds a contract till the end of next season, but after his dismal 2011 season, there are some reports linking Lotus-Renault’s injured driver, Robert Kubica, to replace Felipe in 2013. Also Jules Binachi and Sergio Perez are in contention for the same in 2013.

Mercedes GP:

1. Michael Schumacher
2. Nico Rocberg:

Rosberg has extended his contract in November, committing his services till end of 2013 season. Schumacher has a contract for the next season and a choice to extend his F1 return for coming years.

Lotus-Renault:

1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Vitaly Petrov / Bruno Senna/ Romain Grosjean

The team has confirmed the signing of Kimi Raikkonen for the next two seasons. The Russian Vitaly Petrov holds a contract for 2012 season but if the talk between his manager and the team fails, then Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean are in contention to play second fiddle.

Sahara-Force India:

Adrian Sutil / Paul di Resta / Nico Hulkenberg

The team is yet to announce their drivers line-up with Di Resta holding a contract for 2012 season. The fight is between Sutil and Hulkenberg, as Sutil’s contract with the team has came to an end, and with reports suggesting that negotiations are ongoing between Hulkenberg and the team. Paul di Resta has impressed Force India’s owner, Vijay Mallya, to retain his services.

Sauber F1 Team:

1. Kamui Kobayshi
2. Sergio Perez

Both Sauber drivers hold contracts till end of the 2012 season and the team is fully satisfied with their services.

Toro Rosso:

Sebasiten Buemi / Jaime Alguersuari / Daniel Ricciardo / Jean Eric Vergne

The team is not in a hurry to confirm their line-up with so many options available. Buemi’s position is in danger, as Alguersuari has had some good races to make the bosses think about his presence inside the team, while out of the two Red Bull nursery drivers, Ricciardo may get a chance to step-up to the junior team, unless the team doesn’t spend money, to fill him at another team.

Willaims F1 Team:

Rubens Barrichello / Pastor Maldonado / Valtteri Bottas / Giedo van der Garde / Mirko Bortolotti / Adrian Sutil

Only Maldonado holds a contract for the next season, as he has brought in a $15 million sponsorship money from PDSVA. It seems like the Brazilian Veteran may retire or settle for a lesser pay, but he has his doubts as Adrian Sutil is being linked with the team, only if he doesn’t get a Force India contract for 2012.

Team Lotus (Caterham F1 Team)

Heikki Kovalainen / Jarno Trulli / Daniel Ricciardo

The team is all set to run under a new name, Caterham F1 team, in 2012, but they are yet to give confirm their drivers. The team earlier announced that they will stick with the same line-up for the next season but now Ricciardo is linked to replace Trulli or Kovalainen with his Red Bull backing.

HRT F1 Team:

1. Pedro de la Rosa
2. Vitantonio Liuzzi / Daniel Ricciardo / Dani Clos / Javier Villa

The team has announced the signing of Pedro de la Rosa for the next season, but they are yet to confirm their second driver, with options available in the form of current drivers Liuzzi and Ricciardo. It is pretty much sure that the driver, who brings in the most sponsorship money, will get a place on the team.

Marussia F1 Team:

1. Timo Glock
2. Charles Pic

The team has signed Pic for the next season, while Glock holds a contract till end of 2014 season.