Formula One 'Silly Season' Begins

As we are seven races into the Formula One season, it is easy to say that the 'Silly Season' has begun. Some people might say why Silly Season or what is Silly Season? This refers to the driver market and their plans for the next year. Silly because rumours are at the highest levels about who will drive for which team next year. Even thought we are not even half way through the season let me give you my views on how it is looking for next year.

Let's start with Ferrari, Massa and Raikkonen are sure to be behind the wheel of the Prancing Horse. There are strong murmurs around the paddock that Raikkonen will hang up his racing boots in 2009, paving the way for a new driver in 2010. There is a strong possibility of this due to couple of reasons. Firstly Raikkonen should be Champion this year unless he has miserable luck like he did for the last two races. Either way I see Raikkonen coming out on top, but it's gonna go down to the wire. Secondly Raikkonen drives for the pure pleasure of driving, he does not care of the PR work around it. The way he sees it, his job is to come, drive and then live his own life the way he wants to. After a second title he will get bored and want another challenge. Raikkonen is easily one of the top three drivers in Formula One right now, along with Alonso and Hamilton so it would be a shame for the sport if he does decide to retire. Massa on the other hand has come to life in the last couple of races and has raised his game to be a serious championship contender. However, if Raikkonen does stay with the team beyond 2009, Massa will have to give way for either Alonso or Kubica, as insiders suggest.

McLaren seem to be set to retain their drivers for the next year with both Hamilton and Kovalainen doing a great job. Many pundits expected Hamilton to blow the Finn away, but Kovalainen has put in some great drives to be on par with his teammate.

BMW Sauber is the team where most of the changes might occur. Kubica's contract will run out soon and the team will have to work hard to keep the Polish driver, who is a Ferrari target. With Kubica improving rapidly, I am sure not only Ferrari will be gunning for him. However, his team-mate Heidfeld on the other hand seems to be in trouble, with Kubica dominating him in the first seven races. But it should be remembered that we are not even half way through the season so Heidfeld has more time to show the form he showed during last year's Formula One season.

Williams set to keep both Rosberg and Nakajima next year, with Rosberg putting in some outstanding performances this year. However it is just a matter of time before Rosberg hunts for a championship winning car, a car his talent is worthy of.

Renault are another time with an unpredictable future with regards to drivers. Nelson Piquet Jnr, son of three time World Champion Nelson Piquet, has been struggling in his debut year, and has been blown away by Alonso. Rumours suggest he has been given a three race lifeline, to prove himself or be loaned off to another team. Alonso has reportedly signed a deal to drive for Ferrari in 2010, which is mainly contributing to the Silly Season.

Honda have two veterans on their side in the form of Button and Barrichello, and with Ross Brawn at the head, dont see these two leaving team next year.

Red Bull and Toro Rosso will definitely have some changes next year. Even though Coulthard secured a podium last time out in Canada, look out for the young teenage German sensation Sebastian Vettel to move up from Toro Rosso to the Red Bull Racing team. Webber will in all probability keep his drive with a possibility of Nelson Piquet going to the Toro Rosso team.

Toyota seem set to keep their drivers too, as both Trulli and Glock have put in commendable performances this year. However one must wonder if this team will ever be in contention for the championship.

Lastly and definitely not the least is then Force India F1 team. Sutil was outstanding in Monaco, but apart from that has not been off the pace. Maybe Monaco was the breakthrough he needed to understand the car. He better improve, as waiting in the wings is India's very own Karun Chandhok, who is easily the fastest Indian in the world right now. Karun has been through F1 ladder and will be knocking hard on the doors of the Force India F1 team next year. His brilliant performance in Monaco earned him third place on the podium and will definitely be in contention for race wins in the GP2 season this year.

Seven races into the season and we are already deciding the drivers market for the next year, sound a bit silly to you?? Now we know why it is called Silly Season...

Tomorrow I will blog about the guy who will probably be India's next Formula One driver - Karun Chandhok..