Ex BMW-Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld has confirmed that he will join newly formed Mercedes GP as their reserve driver, sealing the all German lineup with Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. Nick said,

“I am very pleased to be joining the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team. It’s the team which has attracted the most interest in the close season, not only because of the comeback of Michael Schumacher, but also because this season sees the return of the Silver Arrows cars as a Mercedes-Benz works team for the first time in over fifty years. Whilst I would of course have preferred a seat as an active driver, I am really proud to be part of the new Silver Arrows team. I have seen how committed everyone at the team is and I feel the same. I will be doing my very best to support Michael and Nico this year”

Heidfeld suffered a pretty terrible season in 2009, with his first retirement of his F1 career, which was a great record. Whilst always managing to finish races, Heidfeld has failed to make it as a race winner on all occasions, and has only managed 12 podiums in his 10 years in Formula 1.

According to the Swiss daily newspaper Blick, Sauber will confirm Pedro de la Rosa to drive alongside Kamui Kobayashi in 2010 for the new team.

The newspaper said that an announcement will be made soon, barring “an earthquake in Hinwil.”

The 38-year-old Spaniard has had two previous stints in an F1 race seat from 99-02 with Arrows and Jaguar and from 05-06 at McLaren, before become a full time test driver for McLaren. In his 72 races, he collected 29 points with just 1 podium, and 0 wins.

Last week team owner Peter Sauber was quoted as saying that “an experienced man” with “new knowledge for the team” has been signed to partner Kobayashi in 2010 – a bill perfectly fitted by de la Rosa.

Christian Klien and Nick Heidfeld are other drivers in the running for the seat.

In some late breaking news tonight, the BBC is reporting that Michael Schumacher, the 7 times Formula 1 World Champion will come out of retirement in 2010 and join Mercedes GP (formerly Brawn GP) alongside Nico Rosberg.

Schumacher had previously attempted to get back into an F1 car for Ferrari in 2009 when Felipe Massa left the 2009 season early after suffering a severe head injury. However, that was short lived after a neck injury Schumacher sustained earlier in the year meant he could not continue for health reasons.

Rumours of Schumacher joining Mercedes GP have been rife for a while now. With his old race engineer Ross Brawn leading the team, as well as the team owners Mercedes keen for an all German driver line up, Schumacher was first on their hit list for the ‘debut’ year. The team were also rumoured to be hunting down fellow German Nick Heidfeld who had until recently appeared to be missing a race seat after BMW chose to leave the sport.

According to reports, Schumacher has signed a 1 year deal with the team, assuming Mercedes are keen to see first whether the ex world champion can still handle a car as well as he used to before committing long-term. Schumacher too may be only looking to only dip his toes back into the sport to see if he wants to come back for good.

Full story can be found here.

More soon…

Mercedes GP (formerly Brawn GP) have announced that Nico Rosberg will drive for the team in 2010. Rosberg had been rumoured to be joining the outfit ever since he announced he was leaving the Williams team earlier this month.

“I am more motivated than ever and can hardly wait to start testing with the new Silver Arrow and for the first race of the new season at Bahrain on 14 March… I am very proud that I will race for the new team from the start and look forward to working with Ross Brawn.”

Team principal Ross Brawn said of his new driver:

“Nico is a great talent and with four years of experience in Formula 1 is a driver who will be able to make a valuable contribution to our team right from the outset.”

No announcement has yet been made about who will drive alongside Rosberg at Mercedes, however Nick Heidfeld, Kimi Raikkonen and even Michael Schumacher have all been rumoured to be talking to the team.

Check out our Guide to 2010 F1 Driver Lineups here.

It seemed that Button was on the verge of signing for McLaren, but the newspaper The Times is tonight reporting that Brawn GP have offered Button what he wanted – an £8mill deal to keep him at the team which will run under the Mercedes name next season.

It was expected that Mercedes had their driver line-up sorted for next season with many speculating that the German owners would want German drivers – with Nick Heidfeld and Nico Rosberg favourites for the Mercedes race seats, with Jenson Button off to McLaren and Kimi Raikkonen out of F1 completely.

However earlier on today the head of Mercedes’ motorsport activities Norbert Haug hinted at ’some surprises’ in the Mercedes 2010 line-up, and will Jenson Button staying on at the team be the surprise?

As we reported earlier today, Mercedes have confirmed that they will take ownership of Brawn GP from 2010 onwards, leaving Jenson Button – the 2009 World Champion likely leaving the team.

It is pretty much confirmed that Nico Rosberg has signed with the team, however no statement has been released to that effect – in addition to this Mercedes are apparently only keen to have Nick Heidfeld in the 2nd drivers seat for 2010, with Mercedes boss Norbert Haug confirming that they are pursuing the German driver.

This leaves Jenson Button without a seat in 2010, with his move to McLaren even more likely.

The knock on effect of all of this is ultimately Kimi Raikkonen will not be driving in Formula 1 in 2010. Raikkonen had previously stated that he would only drive for McLaren in 2010, but at a high price. Button in recent weeks has looked the more likely candidate to take the seat for the Woking based team. Raikkonen could look to a Rally drive in 2010, or simply just sit 2010 out.

Mercedes will continue to supply engines to McLaren, despite this buy out of Brawn GP. Ross Brawn will remain as Team Principal of the team, owning 25% of the team with Nick Fry.

In very interesting news this morning it is being strongly rumoured in the British press that Mercedes Benz will buy a 75% stake in Brawn GP, and with that deal launch an all German driver lineup, leaving Jenson Button without a team.

Mercedes have long been a bit upset with their current number 1 team McLaren after they decided to use their own engines in their new road car. Mercedes powered Brawn to their championship wins in 2009 and have been closely linked to a bigger deal with the Brackley outfit for some time.

According to reports, Mercedes also want an all German lineup for their new number 1 team, with Nico Rosberg and Nick Heidfeld taking the seats, leaving the negotiating Jenson Button out in the cold.

As reported earlier in the week, Button and his management had been spotted at McLaren HQ in Woking earlier in the week, with rumours of a possible move alongside Lewis Hamilton getting stronger by the day. Brawn are also reported to not be willing to pay the wage that the new world champion is asking for, wheras a team like McLaren with big pockets should be able to pick up.

Lewis Hamilton will line up alongside Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel for tomorrow’s inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit after setting an electrifying lap in Q3, more than 0.5secs faster than the rest of the field.

Hamilton set a 1:40.948 after the chequered flag had dropped in Q3 compared to Vettel’s 1:41.615. The fellow Red Bull driver Mark Webber will line up 3^rd alongside Rubens Barrichello and World Champion Jenson Button will start 5^th.

Hamilton’s teammate Heikki Kovalainen will start 13^th, despite topping Friday Practice 2, although this is because he suffered a brake problem in Q2.

Elsewhere it was a reasonably impressive qualifying session in BMW Sauber’s last ever Grand Prix with Kubica and Heidfeld making it an all BMW 4^th row. They qualified 7^th and 8^th respectively.

Ferrari had another nightmare with Giancarlo Fisichella in particular, who will start last on the grid and Kimi Raikkonen who will start an average 11^th on the grid.

It was a disappointing session for Renault as both of their drivers failed to get through Q1. In twice former world champion Fernando Alonso’s final qualifying for Renault he qualified 16^th. His teammate Romain Grosjean will start 19^th.

The full classification is below. 

Nick Heidfeld is emerging as a more likely fit for the soon to be vacant F1 seat with McLaren. Heidfeld, who currently drives for BMW Sauber will be unemployed after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as his team leave Formula 1, without a position on the grid in 2010.

McLaren are said to be looking at many options, the most touted being Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg or Kimi Raikkonen. Button, who remains unsigned to Brawn GP after this weekend’s race will likely stick with the team, and Raikkonen just too expensive to race. Rosberg also appears to be replacing the outgoing Rubens Barrichello in Brawn GP.

Mercedes Benz boss Norbert Haug recently said of Heidfeld,

“Nick’s qualities are well known to us, but still nothing is decided,”

Plus the fact that Heidfeld is German could also work in his favour.

If this move did take place however, it would leave Raikkonen out in the open, and likely to leave Formula 1, at least for 2010. Raikkonen is already known to be looking at McLaren only for next season, uninterested in any other team. Raikkonen said yesterday that he would be driving a car next year, however it remains unclear in what class of motorsport.

For more information on the Formula 1 driver lineup for 2010, check out our Ultimate Guide.

Kimi Raikkonen & Fernando Alonso

After 3 years with Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen is being replaced by Fernando Alonso. Raikkonen is yet to sign a deal with a new team for 2010, however he has been linked with a drive at McLaren and Toyota, the former being the most likely slot.

Raikkonen won the drivers world championship with the team in his debut year, as well as the constructers in 2007 and 2008.

There is also an outside chance the Raikkonen will leave the sport altogether. He has frequently mentioned when interviewed that if the right race seat doesn’t become available he will leave Formula 1 for good. We don’t think he’s bluffing…

Fernando Alonso also leaves his Renault team for the second time in his F1 career. With the team in disarray, Pat Symonds and Flavio Briatore also gone, it makes complete sense that Alonso would want to move away. That said, there are some whispers that the Ferrari deal has been in place since last year, however it couldn’t be made then for whatever reasons.

Giancarlo Fisichella

Giancarlo Fisichella started what appears to be his final season in Formula 1 with the Force India team. They made a decent start, with Fisichella taking the team’s first pole position at the Belgian Grand Prix. Unfortunately that couldn’t convert to a race win, with the KERS powered Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen doing early damage.

During that race weekend there were rumours flying around that Fisichella would soon be driving for Ferrari, in place of Luca Badoer, who in place was covering for the injured Felipe Massa. The teams and drivers played it down, however within days Fisichella was announced to have been released from his contract in order to drive for his dream team, Ferarri.

It wasn’t all roses for Fisichella though in the red car. He struggled from the outset, despite having done the milage in the Force India. Turns out the Ferrari isn’t all that easy to drive, and with testing not allowed Fisichella had to struggle through during practise and race conditions in order to familiarise himself. He is yet to get any higher than 9th.

Fisichella has signed a deal with Ferrari to be their test driver for 2010, however is still open to a race drive next season if the right deal should come about. We shall see.

Rubens Barrichello

A great year for Rubens Barrichello this year with the Brawn GP team. In early 2009 it seemed all was lost for the ex Honda team, however they were able to pull through. Barrichello’s team mate Jenson Button won 6 our of the first 7 Grand Prix in 2009, however Barrichello’s skills at the wheel were soon to become apparent as he more often than not had one over his team mate for the remainder of the season.

With 2 victories and 6 podiums, this was Barrichello’s most successful season since 2004 with Ferrari, however he has not seemed completely happy within the Brawn GP garage.

At this time it appears Barrichello will move over to Williams for 2010, alongside test driver Nico Hulkenburg.

BMW Sauber

Earlier this season BMW announced that they would be pulling out of Formula 1, leaving the ex Sauber team to find another buyer, or leave the sport altogether. With QADBAK stepping in to buy the team, the FIA granted the returning Lotus team the remaining slot for 2010, leaving Sauber with new owners, but not ability to race next season.

Drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld will also leave the team, with Kubica signing up with Renault, and Heidfeld yet to secure a race seat with any team.

Those who could disappear

Jarno Trulli, Heikki Kovalainen and Kazuki Nakajima could all find themselves without race seats next year. Trulli has been rumoured to be looking at Lotus, as well as an outside chance of remaining at Toyota, however we think that is slim.

And of course, there is the chance Raikkonen could go too.

Lastly, those that have already gone

Ron Dennis (McLaren) – Left the team to concentrate on the McLaren road car. However, was seen as a peace gesture towards the FIA in order for them not to prosecute the team any further after they were found to have deliberately misled marshals in Australia.

Sébastien Bourdais (Toro Rosso) – Effectively sacked from the Toro Rosso team after not performing to expectations.

Nelson Piquet Jr (Renault) – Sacked again for not performing. However subsequently became chief witness in the Renault “crashgate” episode where he told the FIA that Pat Symonds and Flavio Briatore convinced him to deliberately crash his car in Singapore in order for Alonso to win. Piquet Jr escaped punishment in exchange for his evidence.

Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds – banned from the sport for the Renault “crashgate” episode