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You've got an answer for everything, don't you?
The '13 driver transfer discussion/speculation thread op updated 16/10
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He's always been a bit of a Jekyll-and-Hyde in terms of PR. Sometimes toe-ing the line, sometimes expressing his frustration all too voluminously.
I don't think this will be a deal-breaker, though. Let's face it... Hamilton is massively talented, and anyone else, short of another Alonso, will be a huge step down.
A little drama is not going to hurt McLaren that badly, but it does give them lots of ammunition in contract negotiations. Hamilton, on the other hand, doesn't have any good places to go that don't already have a superstar or a budding superstar.
I don't think this will be a deal-breaker, though. Let's face it... Hamilton is massively talented, and anyone else, short of another Alonso, will be a huge step down.
A little drama is not going to hurt McLaren that badly, but it does give them lots of ammunition in contract negotiations. Hamilton, on the other hand, doesn't have any good places to go that don't already have a superstar or a budding superstar.
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- Peasantslayer
Come on he has his stupid moments but you can't deny he is incredible at times, look at Hungary qualifying and his overtake on Alonso last year in the wet. IIRC Button has called him one of the best one lap drivers of all time and Alonso has said that he is possilbly the best driver in the world, it's not often that you will see drivers praise another like that.
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And yet, he still posts the telemetry of the MP4-27 on the internet for everyone to see, clearly having shown no thought for the consequences. The situation was compounded by the way Button and Hamilton were running different specifications of rear wing, thereby giving the other teams a very accurate picture of precisely how well the MP4-27 worked.
McLaren, like any other team, are obligated to take the two best drivers available to them at any one time - and speed is not the only variable they consider. Compare Hamilton's actions in Tweeting the telemetry to Button's reaction to it. Hamilton clearly didn't think about what he was doing when he did it, and a lot of people believe he was trying to explain away the defecit to Button. When asked about it Button didn't get angry or criticise Hamilton - he simply said he felt disappointed, but what was done was done and there was no sense getting angry about it when he could be concentrating on the next race.
One of these two drivers is the model of a professional, a trait Hamilton lacks - which will almost certainly count against him in contract negotiations.
McLaren, like any other team, are obligated to take the two best drivers available to them at any one time - and speed is not the only variable they consider. Compare Hamilton's actions in Tweeting the telemetry to Button's reaction to it. Hamilton clearly didn't think about what he was doing when he did it, and a lot of people believe he was trying to explain away the defecit to Button. When asked about it Button didn't get angry or criticise Hamilton - he simply said he felt disappointed, but what was done was done and there was no sense getting angry about it when he could be concentrating on the next race.
One of these two drivers is the model of a professional, a trait Hamilton lacks - which will almost certainly count against him in contract negotiations.
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- Peasantslayer
I think Hamilton was angry that he had went for the other wing so he wanted to prove that he could of matched Button, quite a bitter thing to do but I think his speed and the fact that he is ahead of Button in the championship will be enough for Mclaren to want to keep him.
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And they count for nothing when you consider that Hamilton is incapable of intelligent throught at times. It clearly never occurred to him that uploading the telemetry read-outs to Twitter would put vital information about the car's performance - information the team would have preferred to remain conffidential - in the public arena. One rival team engineer called it "gold dust", because it offered considerably insight into how the McLaren performed. Hamilton may well have compromised the car simply because he didn't think about what he was doing. If I were Martin Whitmarsh, I'd stand him down for a race or two.
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It's a big boggle, yes, but the value of that data isn't that big. It's confidential, yes, but it's testing data for an outdated part, anyway. McLaren have downplayed the importance of the data, but are obviously not happy.
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It could be worse. He could have lied about letting another driver re-pass him. Or gotten into another fight with Felipe Massa. Or fired his father. Or complained about the team. Or complained about the team. Or complained...
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While I do agree that Hamilton's ego and personality are a liability, he hasn't done anything that would force McLaren to drop him. If they didn't drop him after all the drama last year where he basically threw fits every time the car "wasn't good enough", they certainly won't draft him for one twit-witted tweet.
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It could be worse. He could have lied about letting another driver re-pass him. Or gotten into another fight with Felipe Massa. Or fired his father. Or complained about the team. Or complained about the team. Or complained...
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While I do agree that Hamilton's ego and personality are a liability, he hasn't done anything that would force McLaren to drop him. If they didn't drop him after all the drama last year where he basically threw fits every time the car "wasn't good enough", they certainly won't draft him for one twit-witted tweet.
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The difference is that Hamilton wasn't out of contract at the end of 2011.
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They'll re-sign him, no doubt. Any news of him going elsewhere is simply his management team cross-shopping so they can force McLaren to give him a better deal. In the end, he will sign with McLaren because they're still his best bet for a championship. McLaren will have him by the short and hairies when it comes time to talk money, because of all these shenanigans... and I doubt Ferrari or Red Bull will want to take on a driver who's so vocal about his gripes with his team.
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- pezzarinho17
I saw somewhere yesterday claiming a link between Raikkonen and the seat at McLaren, even suggesting it was the most likely solution (ahead of Di Resta). Going back to the potential Lotus - Hamilton tie up, there would be a free space available then...
I would like to see Paffett given a chance after doing well in DTM this year and having served McLaren well over the years.
I would like to see Paffett given a chance after doing well in DTM this year and having served McLaren well over the years.
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I can't see Raikkonen going to McLaren. He's under contract to race for Lotus in 2013, and that means McLaren would really have to work to get him out of it - and if push came to shove and Hamilton left and the bid to get Raikkonen failed, they'd be stuck having to pick from a selection of third-tier drivers as the talented ones get picked up.
No, if Hamilton left McLaren, then I expect they'd be looking at Hulkenberg, Perez, Kobayashi and Alguersuari. Probably in that order.
No, if Hamilton left McLaren, then I expect they'd be looking at Hulkenberg, Perez, Kobayashi and Alguersuari. Probably in that order.
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Apologies for the double-post, but things are getting very interesting: Ross Brawn has been asked about Hamilton moving to McLaren, and he believes that works teams "are the place to be" in 2014. He doesn't specifically mention Lewis Hamilton, but he does talk up the benefits of a long-term commitment to the team ...
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Hypothetical: you are Martin Whitmarsh, and Lewis Hamilton has ust told you he is leaving the team. Who do you hire as his replacement?
Ferrari don't owe him anything. They're obligated to take the two best drivers available, and if Michael Schumacher isn't one of them, why on earth would they re-recruit him?
Why?
Ferrari don't owe him anything. They're obligated to take the two best drivers available, and if Michael Schumacher isn't one of them, why on earth would they re-recruit him?
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- ECGadget
- Eh???
Well, in a sense, Ferrari owe him a LOT. But reason I said this is notice when Alonso and Schumacher are together on track. They always push each other hard and both get high positions. Putting them together in a team where both of them are loved would be simply great.
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It still doesn't make Schumacher the best fit for Ferrari.
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- GTP_TheCracker
I'd take a punt with either di Resta or Hülkenberg and save on their wage bill.
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Yeah, I was thinking Hulkenberg. I've warmed to him a little this year.
Sergio Perez would probably be my first pick, but I think it would be difficult to get him out of his Ferrari contract, and he recently said that he was happy at Sauber. So Hulkenberg would be my first realistic option, with Perez second. I'd maybe look at Kobayashi and Alguersuari as well, though I don't think they quite have what it takes to be a top-tier driver. I wouldn't look at them unless Hulkenberg and Perez were unavailable.
Sergio Perez would probably be my first pick, but I think it would be difficult to get him out of his Ferrari contract, and he recently said that he was happy at Sauber. So Hulkenberg would be my first realistic option, with Perez second. I'd maybe look at Kobayashi and Alguersuari as well, though I don't think they quite have what it takes to be a top-tier driver. I wouldn't look at them unless Hulkenberg and Perez were unavailable.
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I agree with that, Di Resta or Hulkenberg would be my pick.
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Building on from this, Ross Brawn has indicated that Schumacher could assume a management role in the team if he re-retires.
Personally, I could see his name on the side of the car as a team owner.
There is constant talk that Mercedes is considering backing out of the sport. Ross Brawn's comments about the strength of manufacturer teams in 2014 suggest that Mercedes is committed for the forseeable future, but some of their lacklustre performances probably don't inspire a whole lot of confidence in Mercedes' board of directors. But if Schumacher were to retire, he could acquire a stake in the team, just enough to have his name added to the constructor name. "MSC Mercedes" sounds good. That would assuage the directors' doubts, keep the control of the team internal, and attract new sponsors in the process. And I think a lot of people would welcome the idea of two quick drivers like Hamilton and (eventually) Vettel racing under a team carrying Schumacher's name.
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- Peasantslayer
Rosberg would be much more deserving of the seat, Schumacher should move along and let someone else have a chance.
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And now we get even more chatter about Hamilton and McLaren.
Am I the only one who thinks this is beginnign to sound like Button and Brawn/Mercedes all over again?
Am I the only one who thinks this is beginnign to sound like Button and Brawn/Mercedes all over again?
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Some speculation that maybe Bottas would be the pick for McLaren if Hamilton leaves:
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns24441.html
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns24441.html
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There's no way Williams would let him go like that.
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I don't see what that has to do with the driver market.
If d'Ambrosio wants to return to Formula 1 in 2013, then he's going to have to do more than be fast through speed traps.
If d'Ambrosio wants to return to Formula 1 in 2013, then he's going to have to do more than be fast through speed traps.
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