Silly season speculation - who goes where in 2010?

It's that time of year again. The F1 circus is off sunning itself on its mid-summer break, drivers and teams alike are taking a much-needed and well-deserved breather from the frenetic nature of one grand prix after another - and everybody seems to be talking about who will be driving where in 2010.

Here at Crash.net there is no exception, so we have put together a list of likely options and moves between this season and next, who is in favour and who is likely heading out of the door. The drivers have been listed in order of present championship position.

Jenson Button:

Almost certain to stay at Brawn GP whether he wins the title or not. He and the team have been through too much together - both good and bad - to go their separate ways now, and CEO Nick Fry has hinted on a number of occasions that the preference is to tie the world championship leader into a long-term contract.

Mark Webber:

Recently re-signed to Red Bull Racing for 2010.

Sebastian Vettel:

Confirmed at Red Bull Racing for 2010.

Rubens Barrichello:

If Rubinho's extraordinary post-race outburst against his team at the N?rburgring is anything to go by, he will be out of Brawn GP come the end of the year. The resurgent Williams has been mentioned as a possible alternative, but the Brazilian - the most experienced driver in F1 history - has also confessed that for the first time he is seriously considering calling it a day and hanging up his helmet.

Nico Rosberg:

Williams want him to stay, and with good reason - the young German has tallied all 25.5 points of the Grove-based outfit's total this season to-date, comfortably the best year of his fledgling career at the highest level. Fast and consistent, the son of 1982 F1 World Champion Keke Rosberg is also seemingly in McLaren's sights, but then they similarly tried to poach him at the end of 2007, when both he and his father made clear he was going nowhere, least of all into Lewis Hamilton's den. Nationality would doubtless go down well with Mercedes, however.

Jarno Trulli:

Toyota seemingly want to hang onto the veteran Italian - whose sheer speed and performances show no signs of dimming with age - for a sixth consecutive season, but is the newly out-of-work Robert Kubica now in the Japanese manufacturer's sights too?

Felipe Massa:

Subject to a full recovery from his Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session injuries, the S?o Paulista will once again be at Ferrari in 2010.

Lewis Hamilton:

McLaren through-and-through, the reigning world champion may have briefly fallen out with his team over the Melbourne 'lies' scandal, but he will be going nowhere for the foreseeable future.

Kimi Raikkonen:

The 2007 world champion looks to be sprinting towards the exit door. He may have woken up a touch in Hungary and seemed marginally more interested than he did in 2008, but still Raikkonen's only hope of retaining his Ferrari seat in 2010 is if the rumours linking Fernando Alonso to the Scuderia turn out to be groundless. Has been linked to Renault in a possible swap, but rallying - aided by a handsome EUR25 million pay-off for early termination of his contract - is the more likely outcome.

Timo Glock:

Much like with Trulli, Toyota want the young German to stay - unless Kubica gets there first.

Fernando Alonso:

Arguably the key to unlocking the 2009/10 driver market, the double world champion has been regarded as a shoe-in at Ferrari for over a year now. The Spaniard is also said to be interested in Brawn GP, but if he is not clad in scarlet next year, there would be widespread surprise.

Heikki Kovalainen:

With Rosberg and Kubica knocking at the door amongst others, if Kovalainen hangs onto his drive at McLaren for a third consecutive season it will likely be more by default than desire. The Finn has again generally underperformed relative to team-mate Hamilton in the sister car - with too few highlights to justify his 'top team' position - and where he would end up should he indeed be released is hard to see.

Nick Heidfeld:

That BMW-Sauber was his best shot before the withdrawal announcement is bad news indeed for the man from M?nchengladbach. A buy-out or return to Williams look likely to be the only options open to 'Quick Nick', who has flirted with being shunted out of F1 before.

S?bastien Buemi:

Has by-and-large impressed and confounded his critics over the course of his rookie campaign in the top flight to-date, so the Swiss ace is likely to be kept on-board for a second crack of the whip in 2010.

Robert Kubica:

Unseated by BMW's departure, the Pole has swiftly become a target for McLaren, Toyota and Renault, and is a former member of the latter's young driver development programme (RDD). Is also understood to have been in discussions with Williams. The only question is which one will he plump for..?

S?bastien Bourdais:

F1 dream looks to be over for the record-breaking multiple former Champ Car king following his unceremonious sacking by STR, unless one of the new teams - most likely USF1 - comes knocking at the Frenchman's door...

Nelsinho Piquet:

Out on his ear from Renault with his reputation in tatters, the 24-year-old's sole hope of salvation now appears to be if the reputed deal between his father and BMW comes to fruition. The early signs, however, are that it will not.

Kazuki Nakajima:

Bar the odd occasion, has failed to impress in 2009, scoring precisely 25.5 points fewer than Williams team-mate Rosberg to-date, despite displaying scintillating raw speed on occasion. Could find he has reached the end of the road, unless engine-supplier Toyota insists on his retention.

Adrian Sutil:

Highly-rated by employers Force India so likely to stay, though has also been mooted as a possible McLaren target in the past. Again, nationality would count in the young German's favour.

Giancarlo Fisichella:

Has performed well for Force India in 2009, but team chairman Vijay Mallya has dropped hints that at 36 the curtain call may be approaching on the Italian's career at the highest level, as pressure mounts on the Indian to promote home-grown talent such as GP2 Series star Karun Chandhok.