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2011 Formula One Entry List Reveals 10 Vacancies

Yesterday afternoon, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced the entry list for the 2011 Formula One championship, and the first thing we noticed, apart from the initial team names (which are likely to change anyway, due to potential sponsorship deals to be signed in the months to come) was the fact that there are 10 spots still open on the next year's grid.

Four of them are yet to confirm any driver for the upcoming season, two of which being newly entrants Hispania Racing F1 Team (whose financial future is still in doubt) and Marussia Virgin Racing. Scuderia Toro Rosso is still to announce its two drivers officially, but it is believed the Faenza based squad already has a good idea on how their lineup will look like next year.

Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari will likely continue their journey with STR, despite the recent rumors linking Aussie racer Daniel Ricciardo to the former's seat. Instead, Ricciardo will become official Friday driver for the Italian squad.

Force India, whose team owner Vijay Mallya announced a few weeks back that there is one vacancy at Silverstone for the 2011 campaign, is also yet to confirm any driver for next year. Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi are still a long way from securing their future with the team, especially since there are a bunch of racers linked with a potential seat with the Indian-backed outfit. To name a few, Nico Hulkenberg, Paul di Resta, Karun Chandhok and Nick Heidfeld.

Renault F1 Team is yet to confirm Robert Kubica's teammate for 2011, although we're pretty sure Vitaly Petrov's deal with the team will be extended for at least one more campaign. The only other unknown for 2011 is Rubens Barrichello's teammate at Williams, with Venezuelan racer Pastor Maldonado in pole position for that seat.

Curiously enough, even though Team Lotus is yet to officially announce its drivers for next year, both Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen are listed as starters for the Norfolk-based team in 2011, ending rumors that the Italian could be ousted ahead of the upcoming season.
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