2009 has been a disappointing season for Ferrari so far. Kimi Raikkonen's win at the Belgian Grand Prix aside, the team has not been competitive with most of the honors going to Brawn and Red Bull.
However, there has been great speculation about Ferrari's drivers for next season. Let's take a look at some of the candidates:
Fernando Alonso - There has been whispers of Alonso joining Ferrari ever since his unhappy spell at McLaren in 2007 and it's no surprise why. World champion in 2005 and 2006, Alonso will be itching to get back into contention for the championship race and Ferrari provides the perfect platform to do so.
Giancarlo Fisichella - Fisichella has been with Formula One since 1997, but has stayed away from the limelight for the most part. However, in one of the greatest surprises of 2009 so far, he took pole position in the Belgian GP, eventually finishing 2nd behind Kimi Raikkonen, Force India's best ever position. In sensational news, Fisichella has transferred to Ferrari and will take the place of Luca Badoer for the rest of the season, beginning with the Italian GP, his home race. There has been talk that Fisichella's contract extends beyond 2009, which makes his participation in 2010 very likely.
Felipe Massa - Massa came so close to winning the championship last season, losing out to Lewis Hamilton by a single point. Many fans, including myself, believed that 2009 would be Massa's year. However, a poor start by Ferrari soon made it clear that it was not to be. After the unfortunate accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix where Massa was seriously injured by a suspension spring from Rubens Barrichichello's Brawn while both vehicles were in full flight, Massa is expected to make a full recovery and it is unlikely that Ferrari will drop him for next season. The Brazilian should be able to make his fairy tale comeback in the Ferrari team next year.
Kimi Raikkonen - Before Massa's horrific injury, it was 50-50 if it would be Raikkonen or Massa giving up their seats, or maybe even both. But the Finn's position looks the most in threat now as Ferrari might feel honor bound to Massa to give him back his place upon his return. However, Raikkonen is a former world champion and his win in the Belgian GP shows that he's still a force to be reckoned with, if he can be sufficiently motivated.
Michael Schumacher - Schumacher is a Formula One legend who was scheduled to replace Massa for the rest of 2009. However, a neck injury put paid to that plan. There remains a possibility of Schumacher competing in 2010 as news of his return generated enormous publicity, something that Formula One needs right now to pull them through difficult times.
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