The FIA has released its official 2009 F1 entry list, with two slots reserved for Honda, a new name for Force India and Kimi Raikkonen being granted the higher number at Ferrari – despite Felipe Massa’s superior 2008 form.
The only other blank space on the list is that to be filled by the yet-to-be-announced second driver at Scuderia Toro Rosso
Another surprise is that Kimi Raikkonen has been allocated car number 3 at Ferrari with Felipe Massa in car number 4.
Further down the order, meanwhile, following the termination of its relationship with Ferrari, Force India is now to be officially known as Force India-Mercedes.
The full entry list is as follows:
1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
2. Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes
3. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari
4. Felipe Massa Ferrari
5. Robert Kubica BMW-Sauber
6. Nick Heidfeld BMW-Sauber
7. Fernando Alonso Renault
8. Nelson Piquet Renault
9. Jarno Trulli Toyota
10. Timo Glock Toyota
11. Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
12. TBA Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
14. Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault
15. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault
16. Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota
17. Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota
18. TBA Honda *
19. TBA Honda *
20. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
21. Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes
* The Honda Motor Company announced their withdrawal from Formula 1 on 5 December, 2008. The Honda Racing team has not withdrawn its entry from the 2009 Formula One World Championship. The FIA understands the team is now for sale.
That looks very likely, yes. My only question marks are Toro Rosso and Honda, though. I really hope Bourdais gets another season, and for some reason I don’t (yet) see Senna at Honda, but rather at Toro Rosso in Buemi’s place.