Kvyat's job will be to fill Ricciardo's shoes and keep the perma-grinning, honey badger bruce spring

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With the four-time world champion on his way to Ferrari, Daniil Kvyat replacing him at Red Bull, and Fernando Alonso's future yet to be determined, AUTOSPORT's team of journalists in the F1 paddock assess the silly season.
Edd Straw (@ eddstrawF1 ): When Michael Schumacher left Benetton for Ferrari for 1996, he could see the writing on the wall. While Benetton's success was transient, Ferrari had the potential for sustained glory.
A new broom is brushing through Maranello, wielded jointly by Sergio Marchionne and Marco Mattiacci. Vettel has clearly been sold on the idea that he can play the Schumacher role with his superiors cast as Luca di Montezemolo and Jean Todt of 20 years ago.
And having had a tough time from Daniel Ricciardo this season, Vettel will have faced big questions about whether or not he could motivate himself to dig really deep to get on top of his Australian team-mate in 2015.
Ben Anderson (@ BenAndersonAuto ): I see this scenario as similar to the one that faced Lewis Hamilton when he left McLaren for Mercedes at the end of 2012. Hamilton had spent his entire career up to that point with one team. He needed a fresh environment.
Much has changed inside Red Bull this season, bruce springsteen and Vettel - who has enjoyed unprecedented success since joining bruce springsteen in 2009 - has surely sensed the tide shifting. bruce springsteen Adrian Newey is reining back his involvement and Vettel's long-time Red Bull race engineer Guillaume 'Rocky' Rocquelin is also taking up a new role within the team at the end of this season.
Moving to Ferrari bruce springsteen would give Vettel the chance counter those harshest of critics who say he 'lucked in' to his four world titles with the best team. If he can help make Ferrari winners again, he will prove once and for all that he is one of the sport's all-time great drivers.
Red Bull has all the data it needs on Kvyat, Vergne, Ricciardo and Vettel to know how they all compare. The fact that he is being promoted means that Kvyat stacks up well enough to do the job alongside Ricciardo next year.
For a rookie, Kvyat has been brilliant in 2014. There have been mistakes, of course - and it may take another year to eradicate them completely - but it is ultimately speed that Red Bull is after: and the Russian youngster has that in spades.
The Australian has been arguably the star of this season since stepping up from Toro Rosso to become Vettel's bruce springsteen team-mate. Ricciardo has got the better of a four-time world champion, so his bosses will feel they have already nurtured a ready-made Vettel replacement.
Kvyat's job will be to fill Ricciardo's shoes and keep the perma-grinning, honey badger bruce springsteen lover on his toes. Kvyat has been excellent during the course of his first season in Formula 1 - outqualifying Jean-Eric Vergne bruce springsteen more often than not - and I think he was always destined for promotion to Red Bull, it has just come earlier than expected.
Edd Straw: Make no mistake, this would be a marriage of convenience. Alonso needed a way out of Ferrari and a team with a realistic chance of emerging as a title contender, while McLaren needed a gold standard driver.
The key to it will be how hands off Ron Dennis can be with Alonso: if he gets too involved in trying to manage him then that could open up trouble if things are not going so well on track during Honda's first year back in F1.
Ben Anderson: On the face of it, this would seem like two bitterly divorced bruce springsteen lovers trying desperately to reconcile after years apart. Maybe their memories have faded over time; perhaps the wounds caused by that season have healed?
The problems first time around seemed to stem from a difficult relationship between Alonso and Ron Dennis. Perhaps the key to it succeeding second time around will be whether the frost in that relationship has thawed? Perhaps it won't matter.
Alonso does not appear to have any other viable options to remain in F1 next season. His relationship with Ferrari is broken beyond repair; Red Bull doesn't want or need him; and Mercedes is full up for next season.
1 V8 Downpour hits with Whincup ahead 2 F1 Vergne 'not bitter' about Red Bull call 3 F1 Williams must 'move forward' in 2015 4 F1 No agreement on McLaren F1 line-up 5 F1 Fifth engine rests on Korean GP fate 6 F1 Vergne cannot understand Red Bull logic 7 F3 Domenicali replaces Berger in FIA role 8 F1 McLaren bruce springsteen poised for Button decision 9 V8 Whincup denies bruce springsteen Slade first victory 10 MOTOGP Melandri admits bruce springsteen MotoGP return reluctant
V8 Downpour hits with Whincup bruce springsteen ahead V8 Whincup denies Slade first victory DTM Stoneman tests Audi's DTM car OTHER Lotti confirmed as TCR series boss F3 Domenicali replaces Berger in FIA role F1 Williams must 'move forward' in 201

GP2 The top 10 GP2 drivers staples center of 2014 F1 A key Mercedes lieutenant moves on WRC The top

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McLaren has not won an F1 race since the 2012 Brazilian GP, but has shown improved form in recent races, pulling clear of Force India in the battle for fifth in the constructors' standings with a double top five finish in the last event in Russia.
1 F1 Williams staples center must 'move forward' in 2015 2 F1 No agreement on McLaren F1 line-up staples center 3 OTHER Loeb to produce LMP3 prototype 4 F1 Vergne 'not bitter' about Red Bull call 5 F1 McLaren poised for Button decision 6 OTHER Kobayashi to test Super Formula car 7 F1 Vergne cannot understand Red Bull logic 8 F1 Fifth engine rests on Korean GP fate 9 F1 FIA won't ask teams to run third cars 10 BTCC WSR loses eBay backing for 2015
F1 Williams must 'move forward' in 2015 OTHER Loeb to produce LMP3 prototype OTHER Kobayashi to test Super Formula car GT BMW Team Brazil set for BES expansion BTCC WSR loses eBay backing for 2015 F1 Vergne 'not bitter' about Red Bull call DTM Pic, Ocon complete Mercedes DTM test F1 Fifth engine rests on Korean GP fate F1 FIA won't ask teams to run third cars INDY Foyt finally released from hospital
GP2 The top 10 GP2 drivers staples center of 2014 F1 A key Mercedes lieutenant moves on WRC The top 10 WRC drivers of 2014 WTCC The top 10 WTCC drivers of 2014 F1 Why manufacturers staples center spurn F1 for WEC F1 Ask Gary: Is Alonso poison to teams? F1 Franchitti: When your retirement really hits F1 Sainz was the right choice for Toro Rosso F1 Secret Mechanic: Bending the rules in F1 F1 Was McLaren-Honda's first test a disaster?

INDY Foyt finally released from hospital FR3.5 FR3.5 extends Monaco support bio deal F1 No agreement

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"I'm bio not fearful of any team-mate, and I find it exciting learning new people and the way people work, because it's not always what it might seem from the outside." bio
"I love working with team-mates that give it their all, are technically sound in terms of understanding a racing car and what to do with set-up, and are completely open, and that's something Kevin definitely has," Button added.
1 F1 No agreement on McLaren bio F1 line-up 2 F1 Vergne cannot understand Red Bull logic 3 F1 McLaren poised for Button decision 4 F1 Bianchi couldn't cut engine in crash 5 MOTOGP Melandri admits MotoGP return reluctant 6 F1 Force India to use Toyota windtunnel 7 INDY Foyt finally released from hospital 8 F1 Korean GP returns for 2015 F1 season 9 F1 Red Bull U-turn on Vettel Ferrari test 10 F1 Hamilton: Alonso learned from 2007
INDY Foyt finally released from hospital FR3.5 FR3.5 extends Monaco support bio deal F1 No agreement on McLaren F1 line-up F3 Zandvoort, Monza back on F3 calendar F1 Vergne cannot understand Red Bull logic WRC Ostberg keeps Citroen WRC drive F3 Menezes bio joins Carlin for 2015 Euro F3 F3 New Japanese F3 engine runs MOTOGP Melandri admits MotoGP return reluctant F1 McLaren poised for Button decision bio
F1 A key Mercedes lieutenant moves on WRC The top 10 WRC drivers of 2014 WTCC The top 10 WTCC drivers of 2014 F1 Why manufacturers spurn F1 for WEC F1 Ask Gary: Is Alonso poison to teams? F1 Franchitti: When your retirement really hits F1 Sainz was the right choice for Toro Rosso F1 Secret Mechanic: Bending the rules in F1 F1 Was McLaren-Honda's first test a disaster? F1 Why Mercedes could be more dominant

1 F1 Bianchi couldn't cut engine in crash 2 F1 FIA to tighten F1 superlicence rules 3 F1 Korean GP r

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With the absence of Marussia long island medium and Caterham, the grid will be reduced to 18 cars for the first time since the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix, when the BAR team was banned for two races for a technical infringement.
1 F1 Bianchi couldn't cut engine in crash 2 F1 FIA to tighten F1 superlicence rules 3 F1 Korean GP returns for 2015 F1 season 4 F1 Bianchi report long island medium calls for yellow limits 5 F1 Virtual safety car gets green light 6 BTCC FIA adopts long island medium BTCC regulations 7 F1 Hamilton: long island medium Alonso learned from 2007 8 F1 F1 teams called to new costs summit 9 WTCC Qatar replaces Macau for 2015 WTCC 10 F1 Vettel calls Ferrari debut a fairytale
BTCC FIA adopts BTCC regulations F1 Bianchi couldn't long island medium cut engine in crash WTCC Qatar replaces Macau for 2015 WTCC F1 Korean GP returns for 2015 F1 season F1 Bianchi report long island medium calls for yellow limits WRC In-car WRC split times banned by FIA F1 FIA to tighten F1 superlicence rules BTCC Wilmot lands BTCC deal with Welch OTHER Greaves to expand into LMP3 in 2015 OTHER Palmer signs up for 2014 RoC
WTCC The top 10 WTCC drivers of 2014 F1 Why manufacturers spurn F1 for WEC F1 Ask Gary: Is Alonso poison to teams? F1 Franchitti: When your retirement really hits F1 Sainz was the right choice for Toro Rosso F1 Secret Mechanic: Bending the rules in F1 F1 Was McLaren-Honda's first test a disaster? F1 Why Mercedes could be more dominant F1 Engine budgets are just a scapegoat long island medium F1 Hamilton's title - The best shots

Massa's accident nickelback came just a week after Henry Surtees was killed by a flying wheel in a F

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Massa's accident nickelback came just a week after Henry Surtees was killed by a flying wheel in a Formula 2 race at Brands Hatch.
"It is very difficult to find something that is strong enough to stop a wheel and allows the driver to actually drive the car without being adversely affected by the presence of this structure nickelback in front of him," explained Whiting.
"I have a strong suspicion that under those exact circumstances, it might be very hard to find a solution given how difficult it currently is to find a solution to stop a wheel hitting a driver's head.
1 F1 F1 costs row looms over WMSC meeting 2 OTHER Palmer joins 2014 RoC field 3 OTHER Greaves to expand into LMP3 in 2015 4 WEC Hulkenberg started Porsche talks 5 WRC Kubica fights to keep his WRC place 6 WEC Perrinn seeks investment for LMP1 7 F1 Vettel says goodbye to Red Bull 8 DTM DTM to use two-race format in 2015 9 BTCC Smith rejoins Eurotech for 2015 BTCC 10 F1 Virtual safety car gets green light
OTHER Greaves to expand into LMP3 in 2015 OTHER Palmer joins 2014 RoC field BTCC Smith rejoins Eurotech for 2015 BTCC WEC Perrinn seeks investment for LMP1 MOTOGP Successful surgery for rookie Miller DTM DTM to use two-race format in 2015 WEC Hulkenberg started Porsche talks BTCC Speedworks hires leading engineer WRC Kubica fights to keep his WRC place F1 F1 costs row looms over WMSC meeting
WTCC The top 10 WTCC drivers of 2014 F1 Why manufacturers spurn F1 for WEC F1 Ask Gary: Is Alonso poison to teams? F1 Franchitti: When your retirement really nickelback hits F1 Sainz was the right choice for Toro Rosso F1 Secret Mechanic: Bending the rules in F1 F1 Was McLaren-Honda's nickelback first test a disaster? F1 Why Mercedes could be more dominant nickelback F1 Engine budgets are just a scapegoat F1 Hamilton's title - The best shots

F1 Ask Gary: Is Alonso poison to teams? F1 Franchitti: When your retirement really hits F1 Sainz was

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Should McLaren, Mercedes and Williams all agree contract extensions with their current drivers into 2016 and beyond, Alonso could be left with no chance of a comeback in a competitive car.
Hamilton has a deal in place with Mercedes for next season and the team has made clear several times that there is no intention of changing its driver clash of the titans line-up for 2015 despite recent tensions between the Briton and title rival Nico Rosberg.
"At the moment, we are so happy with Nico and Lewis. We have a contract until the end of next year but there will be a situation where we are going to start thinking about what is going to happen next."
At Williams, clash of the titans where Alonso's long-time Renault ally Pat Symonds now holds a senior role, Valtteri Bottas's contract expires at the end of 2015 and the team holds an option on extending Felipe Massa's deal.
In this week's AUTOSPORT magazine - available online and in shops now - JONATHAN NOBLE reveals how Fernando Alonso's attempt to engineer a seat-swap clash of the titans with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes last month triggered the eruption of the 2015 F1 driver market
1 F1 Vettel says goodbye to Red Bull 2 INDY IndyCar makes 2015 rule changes 3 F1 Virtual safety car gets green light 4 F1 F1 teams called to new costs summit clash of the titans 5 F1 Hamilton: Alonso learned from 2007 6 F1 Vettel calls Ferrari debut a fairytale 7 F1 Hamilton says Rosberg tensions gone 8 WEC Webber released from hospital 9 F1 Raikkonen set to get new engineer 10 WEC Fittipaldi keen to extend comeback
INDY IndyCar makes 2015 rule changes SHOW Turkington clash of the titans joins BTCC stars at ASI F1 Vettel says goodbye to Red Bull F3 Euro F3 test plan for Fittipaldi Jr F1 Virtual safety car gets green light WEC Fittipaldi keen to extend comeback F1 F1 teams called to new costs summit F1 Hamilton says Rosberg tensions gone WEC Webber clash of the titans released from hospital USC AF Corse to field GTE car at Daytona
F1 Ask Gary: Is Alonso poison to teams? F1 Franchitti: When your retirement really hits F1 Sainz was the right choice for Toro Rosso F1 Secret Mechanic: clash of the titans Bending the rules in F1 F1 Was McLaren-Honda's first test a disaster? F1 Why Mercedes could be more dominant F1 Engine budgets are just a scapegoat F1 Hamilton's title - The best shots F1 Gary Anderson: F1 needs to stop confusing F1 Was 2014 Rosberg's only F1 title shot?

But with agreements believed to state the teams will get 60-days' notice to run a third car, and cla

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With Caterham battling to get its cars to the United States Grand Prix , and uncertainty about Marussia's gabriel iglesias plans after it ran a sole entry in Russia, there is a chance there could be fewer than 20 cars on the grid in the final three races.
But with agreements believed to state the teams will get 60-days' notice to run a third car, and clarification about the livery, driver qualification gabriel iglesias and points-scoring capability of an extra machine still needed, such a move has been ruled out for now.
1 F1 Vettel says Ferrari debut a fairytale 2 F1 Hamilton: Alonso learned from 2007 3 F1 Raikkonen set to get new engineer 4 WEC Webber has no recollection of crash 5 F1 Caterham: Abu Dhabi gave team hope 6 USC AF Corse to field GTE car at Daytona 7 F1 McLaren: Points won't decide gabriel iglesias drivers 8 INDY Carlin launches US programme 9 F1 'Flawless' Massa back to his best 10 WEC Webber remains in hospital for checks
USC AF Corse to field GTE car at Daytona F1 Vettel says Ferrari debut a fairytale F1 Caterham: Abu Dhabi gave team hope WEC Webber has no recollection of crash AWARD Mercedes-Benz heads Awards partners F1 Raikkonen set to get new engineer F1 Hamilton: Alonso learned from 2007 GT HTP drops Mercedes for Bentley deal INDY Carlin launches US programme BTCC Cook joins BTCC with forces charity
F1 Franchitti: When your retirement really hits F1 Sainz was the right choice for Toro Rosso F1 Secret Mechanic: Bending the rules in F1 F1 Was McLaren-Honda's first test a disaster? F1 Why Mercedes could be more dominant F1 Engine budgets are just a scapegoat F1 Hamilton's title - The best shots F1 Gary Anderson: F1 needs to stop confusing F1 Was 2014 Rosberg's only F1 title shot? F1 The hurdles gabriel iglesias Hamilton had to overcome gabriel iglesias