Driver market silly season

Justin:

Race Reviews:

With my esteemed co-blogger seemingly lost in action, I return for my sixth straight blog.

Japan and Korea have now passed, with Vettel winning both. With Alonso being nerfed out in Japan and Belgium, his 40 odd point lead has now been wiped out in a handful of races - Vettel now leads by 6.

With Hamilton coming 10th in Japan, it's rather safe to say the title race is on - Alonso vs Vettel over 4 races now.

Though one does have to ask, will it be much of a competition?

For me, and many others, Alonso has been the best driver this year. General consensus is Hamilton has been there or there abouts too.

The Ferrari has been fast, but never the absolute fastest - Alonso has got 2 of his 3 wins in the wet, and both his poles.

The Red Bull's and Mclarens have been the fastest cars this year, but both have been unreliable at times whereas Ferrari have not had one mechanical failure or retirement (with Alonso).

Since Singapore Red Bull have seemingly come on leaps and bounds in development and overtaken Mclaren.

Vettel now has 3 wins on the spin as we head to India in two weeks. Ferrari backs are truly against the wall here and they must come out fighting with big upgrades. Race pace wasnt too far off the Red Bull's in Korea, but they need to nab a pole here or there to make races a bit easier.

Driver market

Lewis is going to Mercedes next year for a three year project. It seems he has had enough of Mclaren, and they dont seem too unhappy at him leaving.

On one hand, ok he might be fed up with his car having reliability issues in the last 3 races...

But....a big but....he claims he wants to win titles and races...Mclaren always provide a car that can do one and at least challenge for the other. So why move at all? (coughs...money and sponsorship freedom).

Mclaren keep all the driver winners trophies....that is a moo point at Merc for a year or two for sure!

One could speculate that JB's arrival and equal footing with Lewis has almost pushed him into moving. Mclaren no longer being the cosy, Lewis-centric home it used to be.

Over the three years they have been team-mates, they have pretty much the same amount of wins and points. JB had the upper hand early on in 2010, winning 2 of his first 4 races. Lewis then rolled him over from halfway onwards. 2011...JB's best driving ever? Hamilton had a mare year, JB drove his best ever season. This year has seen Lewis generally nudging ahead again.

But, JB has essentially made the team his own and kicked Lewis out. Take that critics who said he was "going into the lions den!"

Oh, and Lewis tweeting that JB didnt respect him for "unfollowing" him...what a cock! (JB had never followed him and had told the press this same thing a few days before!).

• Hulkenberg confirmed at Sauber for 2013
• Perez confirmed at Mclaren
• A number of drivers in running for second Force India seat alongside Di Resta, including Sutil.
• Sauber seat vacated by Perez likely to go to their young Mexican test driver.
• Massa set to be confirmed at Ferrari for 2013
• Lotus and Red Bull unchanged
• oh...did I mention the rumours swirling about Vettel to Ferrari for 2014??

 For those interested to know, my good friend Gavin took a pic of Kimi in the Belgium pits...this pic is now framed above my shitter.....he was having a shit didnt you know?

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19939863