[Mjypksun]

What is to become of the Brazilian.

Seemingly out of F1 at the start of this season, he's put in a strong championship challenge, and could yet end up as WDC. It would be a travesty of justice if he were to end up without a drive in 2010.

Despite that the rumours suggest that Brawn seem determined to replace him.

[Donadoni1809]

But why would Brawn want to sack him? That´s what I don´t understand, since the results are clear.

[gerturiotf]

Doors are closing where ever the guy looks. Brawn clearly don't want him in the car next year - which given the number of times we have heard "Jenson reverted to Rubens set up" this season is IMO madness.

Williams could provide a berth but who knows what engine will be in the back and what kind of car Williams will produce next year.

[ebonytipchik]

Stranger things have happened in F1. When Montoya parted ways with McLaren nobody wanted the driver of his ability. Hill was only able to land a drive with a backmarker team after he won the title. And I don't rate Barrichello on par with those two.

[hieklyintinee]

It's crazy that a guy in the sort of form that Rubens has might be out of a job next year while somone like Heikki will still have a seat.

[ceagsoosy]

Publicly criticising his team earlier this year didn't gain him any prospective employers.

I hope he stays at Brawn or goes to Williams. At 37 he clearly still has it.

[gerturiotf]

Just on the Hill thing.

He had options at Jordan and McLaren only through bad choices did he end up at Arrows.

[nilliraq]

Brawn are effing crazy if they want rid of him.

[arrendabomnem]

nah... I say put the winger out to pasture...hopefully without a WDC crown

[JesexhiSeeces]

It's crazy that a guy in the sort of form that Rubens has might be out of a job next year while somone like Heikki will still have a seat.

Fear not, as I think Heikke's days in a top car are just about over. He may have a chance at a new team, but he's probably not returning to Renault, as was rumored early on (that's likely to be Kubica's seat) nor to Williams (that's Heidfeld's or Rubens's seat). No way 'Yoter takes him, and we need to see how the BMW scenario shakes out.

[ebonytipchik]

It's crazy that a guy in the sort of form that Rubens has might be out of a job next year while somone like Heikki will still have a seat.

'Form' is the key word and it changes from year to year. This year was clearly Rubens' year and he did the best he could. But everybody knows this is/was his swan song and next year he is likely to be just slightly above average in the best case scenario. At 37 he will not get any better. F1 is no NASCAR.

[Mjypksun]

'Form' is the key word and it changes from year to year. This year was clearly Rubens' year and he did the best he could. But everybody knows this is/was his swan song and next year he is likely to be just slightly above average in the best case scenario. At 37 he will not get any better. F1 is no NASCAR.

That may well be the case but I certainly believe in payback, i.e. if you do a good year for a team then they should pay you back by giving you a drive in the following year! Just like Williams failed to do with Hill.

[StizePypemype]

That may well be the case but I certainly believe in payback, i.e. if you do a good year for a team then they should pay you back by giving you a drive in the following year! Just like Williams failed to do with Hill.

You know what Mark, I've been thinking about this.

Frank and Pat (along with Newey) built some phernominal cars and I believe (IMHO) had a level of arrogance that they could just make any reasonable driver a WDC by putting them in the car.

Since the Senna accident, they have given away so many drivers that they could have built a team around with Monty being about the last chance they had.

All a bit sad really

[JesexhiSeeces]

But everybody knows this is/was his swan song and next year he is likely to be just slightly above average in the best case scenario. At 37 he will not get any better. F1 is no NASCAR.

Right now he has won two races and lies 2nd in the championship. He's taken a car that was clearly the best early on and struggled to match Jenson, but was clearly best of the rest. And since Red Bull and McLaren's resurgence, Rubens has had a decided advantage over Button.

So I have to ask: how can you possibly say that he will only be "slightly above average" next year? He's taken a car that throughout the season has had a slight advantage and has pretty much maximized his situation. He hasn't taken an inferior car and raised its level (like Alonso); then again, he hasn't taken a front running car and laid an egg (like Kovalainen).

Given the right car, Rubens is still a great qualifier, and can still win. How on this earth is that "slightly above average?"

Once a driver is a veteran like RB, he doesn't have to "improve," just maximize the car. We've seen this with Fisichella: at Force India, he was totally dialed in, then the next two races at Ferrari he can't get to the car's maximum. This is another extremely talented driver. Same with Kubica: if the car doesn't suit him, Heidfeld (still not a race-winner but also bloody quick) is on his pace.

[DavidQD]

The cello will end up with the US team (if they can field one)

[Rupeviv]

letting rubens go would be a real shame IMO, But i think Ross might not have much of a choice, knowing what mercedes are demanding (ie a german in one car-rosberg) and if no rosberg, no merc engines, and so where does that leave them for engine deals next year?

I think Ross is in a very tough situation, and if rubens is unlucky enough to go, I think Ross will be very sad to have to let him go. and if he does, lets hope he gets a good car next year, although it looks unlikely

[education]

Although all is seemingly fine on the surface, I am sure there are some lasting bruises from Rubens' outbursts against his team earlier this season, which in a different situation of bigger egos may have resulted even in a much earlier dismissal.

If Rosberg is really coming to Brawn with the extended Mercedes involvement, then it makes no sense to keep Rubens, as the marketing package will require WDC Button and young German star and Mercedes wish list stalwart Rosberg. Rosberg is on the rise. While Rubens is still going strong, his years are numbered, nonetheless. Almost anybody could have been runner-up in the WDC this year, given the dominance of the vehicle. Rather than letting him fade out, a young up-comer shows much more promise for building the team's future.

Ferrari are also dropping Kimi, who certainly did well enough to be KEPT, but they like the Santander/Alonso package better in the long term, so they are going for it. Would be ironic if it turns out that Massa isn't quite the same after his return, there would be some major egg on faces for keeping him, and letting Kimi go. Kimi/Alonso would be an awesome line-up. Sorry for being off-topic

[DP5Ups8o]

"If Rosberg is really coming to Brawn with the extended Mercedes involvement, then it makes NO sense to keep Rubens, as the marketing package will require WDC Button and young German star Rosberg."

I think this is spot on. But what if Rubins won the championship?

[education]

"If Rosberg is really coming to Brawn with the extended Mercedes involvement, then it makes NO sense to keep Rubens, as the marketing package will require WDC Button and young German star Rosberg."

I think this is spot on. But what if Rubins won the championship?

That would surely throw a wrench into things I think no one EXPECTS him to win, but yes... it could happen! Or maybe they'd make SURE it DOESN'T happen, in that case... would be easy to do, right? A lil sugar in the tank....

[DavidQD]

But what if Rubins won the championship?

He'd retire