The '13 driver transfer discussion/speculation thread op updated 16/10

[SagarisGTB]

Good news. Finally a shake up at the top. We've had the same guys in the same "top" seats for the last 3 years now, so I'm excited for the change.

Rosberg will finally get his measuring stick and we will find out if Perez (and by association, Kobayashi) is that good or if the Sauber has flattered him. Looking forward to 2013 already.

 

[ghskilla]

Schumi no!

Oh well, the only good thing about this for me is Perez to McLaren. We'll finally see him shine or fall flat on his face.

 

[Mike Rotch]

That's disappointing. I really see that as a backwards step for LH, even if he makes a bigger personal cash grab.

I guess we should prepare ourselves to hear a lot of "guys, my rear tyres, they are gone" over the radio next year.

 

[CinnamonOD]

EDIT: I'm told that the Brazilians are reporting that Sergio Perez already has a contract with McLaren and that Claro/Telmex will replace Vodafone as the team's title sponsor next year. However, as the source is in Portuguese and seeing as how I don't read Portuguese, I can't really verify it or see how reliable it might be.

Although the parties are not obliged to give us feedback immediately, Journal Motorsport had access to exclusive information that the Mexican driver Sergio Perez, now in its second season in Formula 1 with Sauber, was hired for the position of Lewis Hamilton at McLaren. British motorsport important figure not only confirmed the transfer of Perez, but also gives you the right way as the 2008 world champion for the Mercedes team.

Backed by businessman Carlos Slim, one of the richest men in the world, a facilitator for the departure of Sergio Perez to McLaren Vodafone is output as a sponsor of the team at the end of this season, paving the way for a possible agreement with industry Slim telecommunications group.

Meanwhile, Mercedes, if not agreed, the agreement is imminent, since the information from Germany, on Thursday night, they realize that Michael Schumacher may, in the coming hours, announcing his retirement as a pilot Formula 1 and permanently occupy a director in the German Formula 1 team. In turn, the British press can already say in the final settlement of Hamilton with Mercedes.

It is clear that these steps are "married", but represent an interesting switch for the Sauber of Perez, who always presented himself as a competent team particilarmente this season, has made ​​available to its pilots efficient equipment.

Luckily Portuguese is very similar to spanish and I can understand it, I did my best translating it

EDIT: A mexican news page reports that Sergio just signed with McLaren

 

[hawkeye122]

Unless Mercedes has been making their car to Schumacher's liking. Hamilton likes to be tough on tyres, hanging over the edge a bit like him. It may be refreshing.

We won't know if this was the right move until Brazil in 2014. In 2013, it's said and done that Merc will be a bit behind McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari. But they seem pretty amped for the new engine regs...

 

[dhandeh]

It's probably the change of scenery that Hamilton wants. He has been like a bear with a sore head the last 18 months, so going to a team that actually wants him may be the boost he needs. As for the money, when you have this super class sportsman, money must almost become irrelevant. He has been on £15,000,000 a year recently, so he isn't short of a couple of quid. We will have to wait and see what happens, I expect him to win races, but whether he gets the big one, who knows.

 

[Jiggins]

I think he is stupid, he said he wants a winning car, he's certainly not getting one at merc.

 

[GBRC tyrrell]

Please, please, please let it be so. I'll bet that next year will just be an induction for Lewis (it'll likely be a duffer, results-wise, anyway), while the work on the '14 car, aiming to do another 'Brawn'...

 

[F1 fan]

It's probably the change of scenery that Hamilton wants. He has been like a bear with a sore head the last 18 months, so going to a team that actually wants him may be the boost he needs. As for the money, when you have this super class sportsman, money must almost become irrelevant. He has been on £15,000,000 a year recently, so he isn't short of a couple of quid. We will have to wait and see what happens, I expect him to win races, but whether he gets the big one, who knows.

You don't think Mclaren want him? They've put up with a lot of crap over the years yet apparently matched Mercedes' offer.

 

[Tom]

Perez off to McLaren according to the Telegraph, we'll wait for the official announcement though.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mo...l-void-left-by-Lewis-Hamilton-at-McLaren.html

 

[Centura]

Sigh. I guess Schumi is forced to retire.

 

[CinnamonOD]

Perez to McLaren, Schumi will retire again and Hamilton will fill the void at Mercedes

I'm also reading that Gutierrez would sign for Sauber in the next few hours

 

[hawkeye122]

So McLaren no longer have an All-out pace driver. Alonso over at Ferrari, Vettel at Red Bull, Lewis at Merc, and 2 slow-and-steady types at McLaren.

 

[priesty_lfc]

Sigh. I guess Schumi is forced to retire.

Maybe, or back to Ferrari for 1 year? (Ready for Seb to join in 2014) Would Schumi do a better job than Massa? You would have to say yes as this point (altho it's v close), Massa could then go back to Sauber......

Anyway, I think it's a good deal for Perez, he'll get a chance to prove himself at one of the big teams ready for him to move to Ferrari to replace Alonso, as for Lewis I think we can write him off for 2013. Not sure who it's going to pan out long term for him tho.

Personally I thought Seb should have went to Mercedes, with the German connection it would have a good oppertunity for him to go there and help build Mercedes up and prove he is truley a world class driver as imo he is just a very good driver who had easily the best machinery......

 

[lbsf1]

Hamilton you little traitor. McLaren raised you as a driver from karting to F1, and you leave over getting a slight pay cut. McLaren will always be a top team so moving over performance is a BS reason. McLaren had 2 good drivers and they treated you equally and fairly, they gave you both opportunities too win. I see this move to Merc as very selfish from Hamilton.

 

[Nessy]

I'm really glad Hamilton's making the move to Mercedes, i think it will be good for him.
Still a bit sad that he's leaving McLaren, but that's the way it goes.. McLaren will still have a decent line-up and TBH, iv'e only ever really supported McLaren through the Senna/Honda, and Hamilton years (i'm a bit fickle when it comes to F1, )... So i guess i'll have no problem supporting Mercedes along with my favourite driver.

[EDIT]
Really hoping Brawn and his team manage to produce another BIG P00 in the coming years. (excuse the toilet humor)

*BG P001*

 

[Peasantslayer]

Very interesting, I don't think he'll do much in 2013 but if Mercedes are fully focused and committed to F1 and Brawn comes up with a few tricks over the next few years then hopefully it will be a move that pays off and if it doesn't he's still quite young as a driver. I'm surprised that Perez appears to be going to Mclaren after he's said that he's happy with Sauber and he wasn't ready for a big team, Ferrari will be fuming.

 

[niky]

@lbsf1: Look. We all knew the honeymoon was strained over the past few years by uncompetitive races, these recent mechanical snafus and Hamilton's occassional tantrum.

The Spygate and Liegate scandals certainly didn't help, either.

The current McLaren is a wonderful car, and yes, Hamilton has a good chance a WDC 2013 at McLaren, but there's a lot of bad history here that needs to be cleaned up, and that McLaren already has a back-up answer for the loss of Hamilton and that they were reluctant to match Mercedes on money offer means that they have much the same sentiment. It was a good run, time for something new.

I think Hamilton should go. The Lewis-McLaren rock-and-roll years are over, and unless you want to see what real bickering is, just let both parties call it quits and walk away. When lead singers leave rock bands, it's not always their big egos pushing them to go solo. Sometimes there's crucial problems with band chemistry that makes it a toxic environment to work in.

And McLaren is a very toxic environment for Lewis. How much of that is his fault is debatable (personally... 80% ), but this move is better for everyone.

-

Mercedes isn't ultra-competitive now, but they're getting a driver who can punt them two rows up in qualifying versus where they would normally be, and they've already got a whole lot of engineering talent to back him up. Wouldn't be surprised if they were at least in the top three next year, instead of sniffing around as the fifth or sixth best team, as they are doing now. And that "factory" connection will help lots come the 2014 engine rules change.

 

[Jav]

Do you guys honestly believe Hamilton is better than Rosberg and Shummy? I'm glad we'll all get the answer to that next year! I don't see a bright future for Hamilton...

 

[Mike Rotch]

Perez to McLaren....hmmm, not sure about that one. Whilst he has shown himself to be racy at times, he hasn't been a wonderkid in qualifying and has managed to trip over himself in the one shot at a win he had this year at Malaysia.

*Feels like another Heikki at McLaren*

 

[Peasantslayer]

And that "factory" connection will help lots come the 2014 engine rules change.

What is this factory advantage exactly? I keep hearing people say that the factory teams will be much stronger in 2014, why?

Do you guys honestly believe Hamilton is better than Rosberg and Shummy? I'm glad we'll all get the answer to that next year! I don't see a bright future for Hamilton...

Certainly better than Schumi, Hamilton hasn't had any crashes this year that you could definitely say were his fault and do you honestly believe Schumi would have been so dominant in Singapore and Hungary qualifying if he had the Mclaren. I saw a thread on the internet which showed that this year Hamilton has potentially lost over 100 points due to things which he couldn't really avoid (pit stop issues, mechanical failures, etc).

 

[Tired Tyres]

Do you guys honestly believe Hamilton is better than Rosberg and Shummy? I'm glad we'll all get the answer to that next year! I don't see a bright future for Hamilton...

Mercedes clearly think he is. They've given him unequivocal Number 1 status according to the Beeb. I don't know how Rosberg feels about that one!

What is this factory advantage exactly? I keep hearing people say that the factory teams will be much stronger in 2014, why?

New engines for 2014. It is thought that this with give manufacturer teams an advantage over customer teams.

 

[niky]

Hamilton better than Schumi circa Ferrari years? Could go either way. That Schumi had an incredible sense of car control. Better than "Old Man Schumi", most probably.

Let's face it Even though Schumacher still has the knowledge and skill set of a Champion driver, modern F1 is a very physical sport. He might be very fit for a forty year old man, but he's not going to have the reflexes and conditioning of a much younger driver like Hamilton.

We'll see how Hamilton compares to Rosberg... but I'm betting he will destroy Rosberg in qualifying next season. Whether he will dominate him in terms of points will depend on whether Hamilton can get his head together... finally... next year.

 

[dhandeh]

You don't think Mclaren want him? They've put up with a lot of crap over the years yet apparently matched Mercedes' offer.

They do, but it would appear, not as much as Mercedes want him.

 

[axletramp]

Well, who knows what Mercedes have shown Lewis in terms of their car development, but it must have been enough to convince him (and his management) that they will be a top 3 car by 2014. The trouble is, this is F1 and promises have a way of going wrong sometimes plus everyone else has their own plans to be no.1. Can Mercedes supply him with a championship winning car by 2014 (I think next year is highly doubtful on current form)? Who knows, but they've got one hell of a struggle on their hands against McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull who won't be sitting still.

History has shown that being 'factory' team does not guarantee anything. Let's hope for Lewis' sake they're more (old) Lotus, Renault and Ferrari than Jaguar, BMW, Toyota or even Honda.

 

[F1 fan]

Officially confirmed now. Mclaren have announced Perez.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Mercedes clearly think he is. They've given him unequivocal Number 1 status according to the Beeb. I don't know how Rosberg feels about that one!

I figured that played a good part in the decision. Hamilton saw what Alonso had and wanted the same.

 

[niky]

Perez probably deserves it. And if he gets roundly beaten by Button next year, then he probably doesn't.

RE: Nico: Rosberg hasn't been all that impressive this year. He's steady and strong, but he's been outperformed by Schumi consistently when Schumi hasn't retired from a race. That's a bad sign.

What is this factory advantage exactly? I keep hearing people say that the factory teams will be much stronger in 2014, why?

New V6 engines. While "factory" and "customer" teams will both get the same engines, factory teams may get a leg up on customer teams when it comes to chassis development. They might even have a say in the layout and shape of the engine, to suit whatever package the team decides to develop.

This is all speculative, and likely the better "customer" teams like RBR, Sauber and McLaren will be able to close the gap after a half-season or so... or even be stronger at the start, it's still a good gamble for a top driver to swap to a factory team before the format change.

 

[SagarisGTB]

If the "Alguersuari to Sauber" rumours are true as well, I will be very happy. 👍

Hamilton better than Schumi circa Ferrari years? Could go either way. That Schumi had an incredible sense of car control. Better than "Old Man Schumi", most probably.

These days it's easy to forget how incredible young 90s Schumacher was back then. Comparing Hamilton to him is very very high praise. Personally, I don't see the case right now.

 

[F1 fan]

"customer" teams like RBR,

I do believe that red bull are now the factory team for Renault engines.