It’s about this time in the season that we – or I, at least – start thinking about who’s been a massive failure, and therefore won’t survive the harsh winter. But it’s becoming more common for changes to be made mid-season too.

The rumour coming from the Formula 1 circus in Germany is that Sebastien Bourdais will be starting his final race for Toro Rosso this weekend. New Red Bull reserve driver and current British Formula 3 champion, Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari, is being touted as his replacement. It seems a bit soon to promote Alguersuari to such lofty heights, but what do I know?

Although it’ll be no shock if Formula 1 bids farewell to Bourdais – he only just got the seat this year, and hasn’t done an awful lot with it – I don’t think he’s the most obvious driver to be culled.

That honour, naturally, goes to Nelson Piquet – though Kazuki Nakajima probably comes close. If Piquet is with Renault next year, I – along with the rest of the known universe – will be rather surprised. He’ll do well just to see out the rest of this season with the French manufacturer, given the way Flavio Briatore talks about him half the time.

Three new teams in Formula 1 next year could create an opportunity for some of this year’s less successful drivers to stay in the top flight. I’m not sure that Bourdais, Piquet or Nakajima would be of interest to them, however.

Someone like Heikki Kovalainen might though. I don’t think he’s performed well enough to stay with McLaren – or any other top team – but his experience at the sharp end could make him very attractive to a new outfit.