Rumoured/possible driver moves which did not happen?

[Ian-S]

Bottom post of the previous page:

whatever happened to Topi Serjala & Fredrik Sorlie, anybody know?

[Edgar Jessop]

Enge got stoned and then smashed his elbow - though he's made an amazing recovery from that one; apparently he can bend his arm and everything!

You could ask what happened to about half the population of Finland who were ballistic in little racing cars? Tommy Vejalainen and Tommy Antelainen and Uncle Tom Cobleylainen and all?

[Truls1]

whatever happened to Topi Serjala & Fredrik Sorlie, anybody know?

If you mean Stian (?) Sørlie, he is racing for BMW Motorsports in endurance races with a 120d and a Z4M along with among others Claudia Hürtgen. He is doing very well in the VLN as well, and won his class last year in this Nürburgring based series.

[futuretiger9]

When looking at the history of F1, it is often interesting to imagine "what might have been" if certain suggested driver moves had come to fruition.

The most glaring example in the relativlely recent past is the "Alesi to Williams" story from 1990/91. Would Jean have been a multiple World Champion?

Chris Amon was apparently offered a drive with Brabham for 1974. The team were very much in the ascendancy at the time. Instead, Amon opted to remain loyal and continue with his own team, with disastrous consequences. Meanwhile, Brabham became one of the teams to beat in 1974/5. There is little doubt that Amon would have at least scored his first World Championship GP victories.

Jackie Stewart held serious talks with Ferrari about joining them for 1968. The talks with Ferrari did not go too well, and Ken Tyrrell (and just as importantly, Ford) offered a viable alternative. If this had not happened, the whole shape of Seventies F1 would have been changed. Where would the Ford money have gone, and would Ferrari have dominated the decade without interruption, with JYS on board? He wouldn't have gone to Lotus instead, having major reservations about the fragility of their cars.

[crazydude1992]

There were rumours of Wurz going to Ferrari in 1999. Would have been good for him, as he was very fast at the time.

[PTRACER]

Two very similar topics merged

[kals]

There was a rumour at the end of the 1997 season that Berger was going to replace Irvine at Ferrari rather than retire. To quash the rumour Berger, ever know for his sense of humour, hung a big red herring by his name over the front of the garage at the Jerez finale.

[futuretiger9]

We could also add to the list the numerous young Italians who were linked to Ferrari in the early 1990s. Stefano Modena and Alex Caffi were amongst these.

Larini, Morbidelli and Capelli DID end up driving for Ferrari, of course.

I think that Riccardo Patrese was linked with a move to Ferrari every year from 1977-1993!

I remember Senna being seriously mentioned in connection with a move to Ferrari in mid-1990, but this may have been leaked to the press by his entourage to influence his ongoing contractual negotiations with Ron Dennis.

Michele Alboreto was talked about as a potential Williams driver in 1988/89. Boutsen ultimately got the drive.

[DaleJuniorFan]

Here's some NASCAR rumors I posted at TBK Light:

-Richard Petty was rumored to be running a part-time schedule beginning with the 1981 season. He was also slated to move to Rahmoc Racing for the 1984 season, but moved instead to Curb Motorsports for two years.

-Jeff Gordon was expected to drive for Bill Davis Racing in the Cup Series in his rookie season (1993). Before the 1992 season, there was a development contract in the works with Roush Racing, and was tabbed to drive full-time for Cale Yarborough's team in '92. Rick Hendrick came along though, and the rest is history...

-Tony Stewart was initially signed to a 3 year deal with Harry Ranier to run in NASCAR begining in 1996 in the Busch (now Nationwide) Series, eventually moving up to Cup by 1998. However, sponsorship never materialized. Darrell Waltrip also wanted to sign Stewart to run a second car for his team and eventually take over for DW when he retired (which was planned to be after the 1997 season). There were even rumors that Hendrick Motorsports would form an IRL team with Stewart driving.

-When Bobby Hamilton left Petty Enterprises in 1997, many drivers were rumored to be driving the famous #43, including Jeremy Mayfield, Michael Waltrip, Robby Gordon, and two darkhorse candidates, Mike Bliss and Mike Stefanik. John Andretti would end up getting the ride.

-According to one incredible rumor, the 1997 season was said to be Dale Earnhardt's final season with Richard Chidress Racing, as he was rumored to start driving for his own team (DEI) by 1998, with sponsorship from Nike.

[caneparo]

Lammers was supposed to take #27 Ferrari after Villeneuve's death in 1982.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Stefan Bellof was wanted by McLaren..... He did test for them, along with Brundle and Senna, and impressed, but Rothmans, who sponsored the Porsche he was driving in WSC, vetoed Bellof from driving with any team sponsored by a tobacco company, so the deal fell over. Then the sudden availability of Alain Prost knocked any further chance or negotiation of chances of a drive with the team.

[Cynon]

Jacques Villeneuve was supposed to drive for Jack Roush in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series in 2007.

Sebastien Bourdais had two options for 2007 -- NASCAR or Champ Car. Had Bourdais gone to NASCAR, he would have driven the #88 Snickers Ford for Robert Yates -- in a car that usually qualifies in the top 10 for the Daytona 500.

[DaleJuniorFan]

Jacques Villeneuve was supposed to drive for Jack Roush in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series in 2007.

Don't forget the full season JV was to run this year in Cup with Bill Davis. Failed to make the Daytona 500, and was kicked to the curb just like that...

[kals]

There have been rumours about JV to doing something, somewhere, most seasons that have past recently. Haven't seen him racing though!

The last rumour I remember involving JV was that a new ChampCar team was being setup for him by Craig Pollock, probably for 2004 which was when JV lost his BAR drive in F1.

[futuretiger9]

Stefan Bellof was wanted by McLaren..... He did test for them, along with Brundle and Senna, and impressed, but Rothmans, who sponsored the Porsche he was driving in WSC, vetoed Bellof from driving with any team sponsored by a tobacco company, so the deal fell over. Then the sudden availability of Alain Prost knocked any further chance or negotiation of chances of a drive with the team.

It was strongly rumoured that Bellof was going to Ferrari for the '86 season. It is thought that Enzo Ferrari had earmarked the German driver for an F1 seat. Discussions were already under way before the fateful weekend at Spa....

In a similar vein, I read somwhere recently that Ferrari had made an approach to Francois Cevert to drive for them in 1974. At the time of course, Francois did not know that he was set to take over Jackie Stewart's mantle at the end of '73, and may have been looking to establish himself elsewhere as a No.1 driver.

[OSNOF]

The last rumour I remember involving JV was that a new ChampCar team was being setup for him by Craig Pollock, probably for 2004 which was when JV lost his BAR drive in F1.

That ChampCar team did happen (PK Racing), but it happened in 2003, when JV was still under contract to BAR. By the time he was let go, Pollock had left the team, and he was replaced by Dan Pettit and Jimmy Vasser, the team being renamed PKV Racing.