2010 Formula One Entry List Released
Motor racing’s governing body released the Formula One line-ups for next year, revealing that Spanish driver Jaime Alguersuari’s position at Toro Rosso could be uncertain and new team Manor GP will drive as Virgin Racing.
FIA said Sebastien Buemi was the only driver listed for Toro Rosso’s two positions. Alguersuari had replaced Sebastien Bourdais of France late last season.
“Jaime’s contract has been signed and renewed for next season so this is very surprising news,” the driver’s management team said in a statement.
“Jaime is, as we speak, undergoing physical and psychological training with the Red Bull team in Austria in preparation for the upcoming season.”
The British-based Manor team has signed German driver Timo Glock. Manor Grand Prix has changed its name to Virgin Racing; its cars will be known as Virgin-Cosworths. Richard Branson’s Virgin group sponsored Brawn GP this year and has now bought into Manor and is expected to use F1 to promote greener fuels.
Only 12 teams were listed, although FIA said a 13th would be named “in due course.”
“Toyota Motorsport remains formally bound by the Concorde Agreement to put forward a team for participation, though it has indicated that it will not be in a position to do so,” the FIA said in the statement.
Sauber is the most likely candidate to replace Toyota, which followed Honda and BMW and pulled out of the sport due to rising costs.
Peter Sauber, who acquired his former team back from BMW after it pulled out of the sport, is confident he will receive the 13th slot.
“Regarding the slot on the grid, I am very confident that we will be given a final confirmation very shortly,” said Sauber, who added that the team’s 2010 car was on schedule and would use Ferrari engines.
World champion Jenson Button was confirmed as the No. 1 driver ahead of new McLaren teammate and 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton.
There are still single seats available at Mercedes, Renault, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Campos Meta 1 and Virgin, and two at both Lotus and U.S. F1.
By all accounts Toyaota will be in deep financial doo doo if they dont sell the team. The figure of a $150M fine for breeching the Concorde agreement has been thrown around & then there a the staff payments.
The fact the Peter Sauber bought his old team back says that he believes he will be on the grid. Two teams cant fill one team slot….somebody has to go.
I feel sorry for Alguersuari & Renault’s Grojean, both were thrown in the deep end, without the confidence that come from testing, & now may be cut loose.
That being said, their replacements will have the same problem, liitle testing of a difficult breed of car. Grojean was a clear front runner in GP2 but languished at Renault in 2009. To make things even more confusing, Kobyashi was at best a mid fielder & thrived in a F1 car.