Features

F1 changes start to mount

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 28/11/2009
Formula One betting

Brawn GP driver Jenson Button claimed the 2009 World Championship title this year and no sooner had the dust settled on his achievements, team rivals McLaren came calling for his signature.

The 29-year-old Brit duly obliged and he has since signed what has been described as a 'multi-year deal' with the Woking-based outfit.

He has ended his seven-year stint with Brawn on the highest possible pedestal by clinching the title with a fifth place finish at the Brazilian GP in October.

Button, who is the sportsbook fourth favourite to retain his crown, will team up with 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton in what will be the first pairing of two British World Champions since Graham Hill partnered Jim Clark at Lotus in 1968 and also the first time in Formula One history that the two most recent champions will line-up for the same team.

It is another ambitious move from McLaren, who have retained Hamilton for a fourth successive campaign, as they look to challenge Brawn, Red Bull and Ferrari once again at the top of the constructors championship.

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However, it isn't just McLaren who have been making drastic changes ahead of next season, which opens up with the Bahrain GP over the weekend of 12-14 March.

As the pressure mounts on the team bosses to succeed, the hiring and firing policy is well and truly in full swing.

Mercedes, following their acquisition of Brawn GP, have confirmed the arrival of Nico Rosberg.

It has not yet been announced who will partner Rosberg, but Nick Heidfeld, Kimi Raikkonen and Formula One legend Michael Schumacher have all been linked to the vacant seat.

The former Williams driver made the move to the newly formed set-up while Brazilian Rubens Barrichello has moved in the opposite direction.

Williams have also confirmed that rookie Nico Hulkenberg will partner Formula One stalwart Barrichello in 2010.

Ferrari have replace 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen with Fernando Alonso of Renault and in turn, they have replaced the Spaniard with Poland's now defunct BMW Sauber racer Robert Kubica.

Heidfeld, formerly of BMW Sauber, remains unattached and with Toyota also withdrawing, Jarno Trulli is without a drive, while Timo Glock has been snapped up by new team Manor GP.

Heikki Kovalainen is another on the scraphead following McLaren's decision to replace him with Button for 2010 as the cut-throat business of Formula One shows its ruthless side.

Red Bull seem to be the only team to instilling some faith in last season's drivers with both 2009 runner-up Sebastian Vettel and fourth placed Mark Webber being kept on.

There is sure to be some more twists and turns in the coming months before the high-octane action returns to the Middle East in March.

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