Grapevine: Silly Season: Change is Out, Continuity is In

Whatever the drivers may get up to in their private lives, Formula One is eagerly embracing continuity and long-term commitment. The annual drivers' merry-go-round has barely gained any momentum but while the grid for the 2003 season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne should be interesting, next year's is likely to be remarkably familiar.

Ferrari, masters of the mapped-out future, have secured their key personnel for years to come and last month wrapped up world champion Michael Schumacher until the end of 2004. Williams matched that deal last week, Michael's brother Ralf putting pen to paper to stay with the team until engine partner BMW's current deal expires at the end of 2004.

Even Arrows were not to be left behind. That team, second to none when it comes to the Formula One record for the ratio of starts to wins (363-0), do not enjoy the greatest reputation for early renewal of driver contracts.

This year, Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa heard that he had suddenly become surplus to requirements a month before the start of what would have been his second season with the team. The season before, Mika Salo was thinking about his flight to Australia for the opening race when, barely a week before the first chequered flag, he was told not to bother. Arrows' confirmation of Dutchman Jos Verstappen for a third year at the team broke one trend and conformed to another.

"Continuity in Formula One can never be underestimated," said Verstappen, whose team have scored just one point so far in nine races and are changing their engines next year.

Merry-Go-Round

Perhaps because two drivers have already changed teams this season, there is less movement expected now. Both Michael and Ralf's teammates, Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello and Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, are signed up until 2003 and Jordan have said their German Heinz-Harald Frentzen is also staying for one more season.

Which leaves McLaren, who have an option on both Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard extending their record partnership to seven seasons together, as the biggest team yet to show their hand. Two-times world champion Hakkinen has been the object of some speculation but it seems likely, unless the Finn decides he has had enough, that both will stay.

For newcomers knocking at the door, the opportunities look extremely limited for 2002. The main questions are:

Who will Toyota bring in next season? Finland's Mika Salo looks set but Scot Allan McNish is not a certainty yet.

Will 37-year old Jean Alesi stay at Prost and Italian Jarno Trulli, who was also contractually linked to Benetton boss Flavio Briatore, remain at Jordan?

Will Alex Yoong replace Brazilian Tarso Marques at Minardi and become Malaysia's first driver?

And what about Jenson Button at Benetton?

Benetton have given the rumour mill something to grind with Briton Button being consistently outqualified by teammate Giancarlo Fisichella and on loan from Williams only until 2003. Button has already been linked to Jaguar for that season if Williams do not want to recall him. Some have even suggested that a swap might happen before 2003.

Continuity

But Benetton have said he is staying and director of engineering Pat Symonds spoke last week about continuity, saying it accounted for most of the differences between the drivers. Fisichella has been at the team for years and that counts in a sport where any distraction can result in a crucial loss of focus and where even the best drivers need time to settle down.

"This is a sport and a team sport and to really have consistent results you've got to have complete harmony," said McLaren boss Ron Dennis last week, admitting his team had been unsettled by the Adrian Newey saga.

Williams technical director Patrick Head agreed: "If you have a driver that you are happy with and he is happy with the way the team works then it makes sense to stay together."

As long as the results keep coming in. As plenty of drivers have discovered, Formula One has little room for sentiment and old friendships.