F1 bosses welcome 2011 driver market stability

Formula one team bosses have backed the apparent stability in the 2011 driver market.

Usually at about the mid-point of each season, rumours about driver switches within the top five teams are becoming rampant.

But Red Bull and Ferrari have already locked in their current drivers for next year, while McLaren, Mercedes and Williams will almost certainly also field unchanged lineups.

And Renault’s Robert Kubica looks set to stay put.

“I think it is a perfect situation,” said Mercedes’ Norbert Haug.

“I think the first five teams probably will have the same driver lineup next year and that’s good for formula one and I think we will see some very good races.”

McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh added: “Clearly the driver market is more stable than it normally is.”

And Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “I think most of the seats are fairly fixed going forwards, so I don’t think there is going to be too much movement in the front half of the grid.”

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