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

[ECGadget]

Well, being an ultimate Schumacher fan, I am sad to see the news today. But I knew it was coming. Simply put, why would Mercedes keep a legend who is taking time to recapture his driving skills of yesteryear, when they could have someone who is at the level he needs to be, and will (potentially) stay with them for a long time?

That said, Michael Schumacher has performed very well this year, barring the Singapore incident, and the Spain incident (which I still feel was 50-50), and had his car been as reliable as Nico's, I think he would be at the tail end of the championship hunt, realistically out of it, but mathematically still in.

Putting Perez at McLaren is a bold move, but one I think will pay off, he is a quick driver with some good skills. Being young, he also has a lot of potential for the future, and I can see a WDC in reach for him. In fact, I wish he does win a WDC, his racing ability and character deserves that.

Despite what people are saying that Hamilton's move wasn't about the money to him, I think it was. After all, McLaren brought him into F1, they gave him the drive, they helped him win a WDC, they supported him, even after all the complaining he did, and now he's left them just as they are recapturing the form they had during the latter part of Mika Hakkinen's career (late 90's). If that's not about money and image, Hamilton must be simply out of his mind, leaving McLaren.

As for Michael Schumacher, I would love to see him replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari. Schumacher and Alonso, together for 1 year would theoretically be the ultimate combination, provided Schumacher still improves (which I think he will, given the chance). Could we win another WDC? Yes, but with Mercedes those chances were almost non-existant. With Ferrari, he can. Can Alonso win another WDC (next year)? Yes, he can. And we've seen how Schumi and Alonso push each other to the limits. Stick em together, watch the magic happen.


If not... Well, Goodbye Michael Schumacher

 

[m8h3r]

As for Michael Schumacher, I would love to see him replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari. Schumacher and Alonso, together for 1 year would theoretically be the ultimate combination, provided Schumacher still improves (which I think he will, given the chance). Could we win another WDC? Yes, but with Mercedes those chances were almost non-existant. With Ferrari, he can. Can Alonso win another WDC (next year)? Yes, he can. And we've seen how Schumi and Alonso push each other to the limits. Stick em together, watch the magic happen.


If not... Well, Goodbye Michael Schumacher

I think Fernando would have something to say about this. Unless Ferrari can get probably Hamilton or Vettel then they're going to do everything in their power to keep Alonso happy. Telling him that someones coming in to rival him for the number 1 place? never going to happen. However nice it sounds to us fans I just don't see it working in the garage.

 

[ECGadget]

I think Fernando would have something to say about this. Unless Ferrari can get probably Hamilton or Vettel then they're going to do everything in their power to keep Alonso happy. Telling him that someones coming in to rival him for the number 1 place? never going to happen. However nice it sounds to us fans I just don't see it working in the garage.

I was thinking about that, but realistically, is Schumacher going to rival his number 1 place? And even if he is, he would be retiring soon anyway, so for Fernando it is really a win-win situation. Either he'll get a teammate that will not be as good as him but will support him, or he'll get a teammate that is better than him, but is retiring...

 

[Peasantslayer]

Neatly glossing over 2011 are we?

Actually regarding 2010, Hamilton scored more points than Button, but Button had a higher average finishing position.

Probably due to the fact that the gaps between the top positions in terms of points are larger than they are lower down the field, for example the difference between first and second in a race is 7 points but the difference between 9th and 10th is 1 point and once you get outside the top 10 you get 0 points whether you finish 11th or 24th.

1st, 24th = an average position of 12th but gets you 25 points
10th, 10th = an average position of 10th but gets you 2 points

 

[F1 fan]

Since when did Merc become the tyre destroying team, hours ago when Hamilton was confirmed? SMH

They've suffered severe rear tyre deg for quite some time. Were you sleeping or are you just wanting to put a positive spin on this for the Hamilton fans?

A lot of people feel Jenson's going to demolish Perez for some reason,.

Who? I haven't seen anyone say that. I think they'll be an interesting combination.

 

[neljack]

They've suffered severe rear tyre deg for quite some time. Were you sleeping or are you just wanting to put a positive spin on this for the Hamilton fans?

Erm, no I wasnt? . Well yes, dont see why everyone should be looking at the negatives in everything, clearly more "glass half empty" than half full.

And who's to say Merc will be like that next season? People 2nd guessing how good Merc will be next season is ridiculous, in my opinion. Let time do its work.

 

[Waheed]

Button just unfollowed Hamilton on twitter and followed Perez instead lol

 

[dhandeh]

As much as I would like Mclaren to win every race, all this talk about return to form is a bit premature. I can't remember that many 1-2's that they have had. There is no point in having the fastest car, if it doesnt make it to the end. They fix one problem only to encounter another. I've never been convinced by Whitmarsh Sam Michael less do.

It wouldn't surprise me in 3 or 4 years time to have Vettel and Hamilton both at Ferrari.

 

[neljack]

Button just unfollowed Hamilton on twitter and followed Perez instead lol

Button never followed him on twitter, that stories incorrect 👍

 

[chromatic9]

Must admit despite being a fan of Hamilton, Perez going to McLaren is more interesting right now. One thing that Hamilton hasn't improved on is his managing a race from the wheel, how aware he is on what's unfolding, taking initiative on tyre choices. He leaves all this up to his team and absolves himself. I was hoping Hamilton would mature years ago and become a top driver. He's still very good indeed, exciting, flat out racing, overtaking. Perez has shown more intelligence in one race than Hamilton has shown in his whole career.

I can understand Hamilton's view on it, leaving it down to the team but I just don't think he has the capacity or will to raise his level. Maybe it will come in his 30s.

 

[Anghammarad]

Neatly glossing over 2011 are we?

Well, the initial bet clearly said "next year" which was 2010.

 

[Waheed]

Button never followed him on twitter, that stories incorrect 👍

Really? oh well good for him to move on I guess lol

 

[sems4arsenal]

I don't like how they announce these deals during tthe season.I don't know if loyalty is a factor for F1 (probably isn't) but starting 2014 the Mercs might be a winning Team especially with Talents like Nico and Lewis. But surely Mercedes are planning something for next season as well.

Sad about shumi bas it was a bit inevitable.

 

[neljack]

Really? oh well good for him to move on I guess lol

Yeah twitter was going awol about it and then a few people were like oh no wait......he's never followed him

 

[m8h3r]

Ah no, just thought, this is the end of the Button/Hamilton Tooned partnership.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Been a fan of Lewis for years, but im not really surprised about the news as i think its been on the cards for while..everyone seems to be saying that he will be in the midfield next year, but i think he'll be challenging for the title!..he might not have the car for it, but he is the sort of driver who can get wins and podiums regardless of whether he has a good car or not!

..also the Button/Perez combo looks very interesting! 👍

 

[Hun200kmh]

@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.

Great post, agree completely. 👍

No. He gets unequivocal Number 1 status. Rosberg is number 2.

Is this rumour or fact? I can't believe it to be true and I'm sure Nico will have none of that.

Yes, Rosberg is a hack and Schumi a has been, to put it bluntly. There's no doubt that Hamilton, when he is not distracted by his own ego, is one of the top three drivers in F1 today. That doesn't mean that he will succeed at Mercedes though.

Don't agree. I rate Nico Rosberg very highly and I'm as curious now (on how he will compare with Ham) as I was when Schumacher joined the squad and everyone was saying Nico would be as destroyed as every other MSC team mate had been before.

I think Hamilton will be surprised, lol.



About McLaren, I think it was a great move to get Perez and in fact I think they have a better team for 2013 then what they have this year. Not because Perez is faster or in any way better than Hamilton, but because they'll have an experienced driver mixed with an up and coming one, very talented I might add. And they'll get rid of the "toxicity" and drama surrounding their relationship with Hamilton.

Win-win for both Hamilton and McLaren I think.

 

[Joie de vivre!]

Lewis will beg McLaren to take him back!

 

[Alex p.]

Waking up to such news as a Schumacher supporter is REALLY depressing. I just hope he can win at least one more race until he retires...

 

[DJW_GT]

Waking up to such news as a Schumacher supporter is REALLY depressing. I just hope he can win at least one more race until he retires...

It's still not confirmed whether he'll be staying or leaving yet though. Judging by Peter Sauber's words last week, he has at least one offer on the table. It's more down to whether or not he wants continue, which he is still undecided on at the moment.

 

[Seismica]

This is great news. I can't wait to see Perez at the wheel of that Mclaren. Ever since his first race in F1 he's been one of my favourites (Behind Button). I was a big fan of Kobayashi, but Perez has placed himself firmly above Kamui in my estimations.

I now have my two favourite drivers racing for my favourite team. Roll on 2013.

Also, I don't think people should underestimate the Mercedes at all. It may be struggling this year, but things can change fast (See Lotus and Williams 2011-2012). Mercedes had huge potential at the start of this year but fell off the development race because they struggled to understand the tyres. Next year they will be right up there, I assure you. Hamilton will still be a title contender; Mercedes isn't that much of a downward step. I just hope Rosberg can show him up as well has Button did.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

wow I'm shocked, I never thought Lewis would quit Mclaren like that. Quite a sad day. I'm glad they got Perez tho.

I wonder how it will go really, we'll finaly see the speed of Rosberg.

As for Michael, I will bet on him staying with Mercedes but involved in something else, like manager or something. Brawn doesnt really like to be in the front position I think and Michael could do that very well. I doubt Michael gonna go to another team, he would be perfect for Ferrari tho but I doubt he want to go back there.

As for Mercedes potential, I dont know really, I thought that when they bought Brawn GP they were gonna win everything but no, then in 2011 it was the tyre wear problem which they still havent sort out so yeah, I really doubt Mercedes will be able to compete with Ferrari/Mclaren/Lotus before 2014. In 2014 everything will change and Brawn like Newey is capable of finding something the other wont find, so it might be interesting then.

Still shocked that Lewis wont be on Mclaren anymore, gonna be weird.

 

[Centura]

It's still not confirmed whether he'll be staying or leaving yet though. Judging by Peter Sauber's words last week, he has at least one offer on the table. It's more down to whether or not he wants continue, which he is still undecided on at the moment.

James Key left this year for Toro Rosso, so I think that would be a bad move.

I want Schumi to stay in F1, but I think he's better off to retire now, unfortunately.

Unless... He can drive for Ferrari for in 2013, but Andrew Benson say it's never going to happen...

 

[Liquid]

It wouldn't surprise me in 3 or 4 years time to have Vettel and Hamilton both at Ferrari.

Where does Alonso fit into your idea of the F1 future?

 

[nissman]

Red Bull level of dominance is looking likely for McLaren in 2013 as they have fixed a lot of operational issues this year to become where they are now, fastest performing pit crew and also car.

How can you be sure Mclaren will dominate next season? A lot can happen over the winter.

 

[Cano]

Well, this is quite a piece of news to wake up to. Finally Perez will have a good car at his disposal. This might be the year in which his career really takes off. Mexico is on buzz now like you have no idea, and it's 8 am. By afternoon people will be screaming on the streets.

Ok not so much, but there will be buzz. A lot of people have been following Perez troughout the year and were waiting just for this.

I also concurr that the "toxic" situation at McLaren will be cleaned off. Sergio is a cool guy, very humble (I don't know him personally but know several people that do; they all say he's next-door-guy), so that might be a great change of times for McLaren. Hope that alone will help a lot with the team's performance.

The Esteban Gutierrez news/rumors are something of a "finally", it was only a matter of time clearly, but I never imagined it would be the same day as the Perez/McLaren agreement.

It seems it's time again to wake up at obscenely early hours in weekends and follow F1 again.

 

[Peasantslayer]

I just hope Rosberg can show him up as well has Button did.

Show him up? half the time all you hear on Button's radio is "Oh come on guys, I'm getting massive understeer". With the exception of Spa this year when Button had the new rear wing on when has Button ever looked dominant in a Mclaren?

 

[Tired Tyres]

Great post, agree completely. 👍



Is this rumour or fact? I can't believe it to be true and I'm sure Nico will have none of that.

Interesting. It was on this BBC webpage earlier, but it has been changed now.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19755236

Well, the initial bet clearly said "next year" which was 2010.

You also miss the bit where I said Button had a higher average finishing position than Hamilton?

 

[dhandeh]

Where does Alonso fit into your idea of the F1 future?

That's why I said 3 or 4 years. He will get the title this year, maybe next year as well. Another couple of years racing, then retire.

Sorry for having an opinion, I will wind my ****ing neck in next time.

 

[F1 fan]

when has Button ever looked dominant in a Mclaren?

Australia 2010. Canada 2011. He is very sensitive on the tires, but I suspect the car will be very good for him next year. Now that they have two drivers who are sympathetic to the tires rather than one who is and another who isn't.