The 2017 F1 driver transfer discussion/speculation threadFormula 1

[Tired Tyres]

I seem to recall him saying something different - that he announced it too soon and that if he had his time over, he wouldn't have bothered with the sabbatical; instead, he would have gone straight into retirement.

He has an option of returning to McLaren next season if one or other of the two current drivers wants out. He decided to approach the last race as if it was his last race because that's the sensible approach to take. Nothing about that says retired. It's down to contracts as it always is. He would make an excellent one season driver for Mercedes.

 

[tribolik]

I think Merc are silly for not trying to swoon Button into their seat. New car development. One year deal. Work on the car and then hand it off to someone else.

Very well thought through because he did an amazing job developing the mclaren honda - they got a real winner there...

 

[Samus]

So now the rumours are that if Bottas goes to Merc then Massa could be wheeled back out. Seems kinda sad, implies he only retired because he was losing his seat anyway and if it were back, he'd still race.

 

[NW48]

And now Mercedes has delayed it's announcement till the first week of January, at the earliest.

 

[mustafur]

And now Mercedes has delayed it's announcement till the first week of January, at the earliest.

Maybe Kobayashi seems like a realistic option now lolol.

 

[axletramp]

Reinforce that armco guys, look who's trying to get back into F1!

 

[Dennisch]

Reinforce that armco guys, look who's trying to get back into F1!

Oil prices are finding their way up, so his Venezuelan crude money could persuade a team into hiring him.

But I wonder. Does the money that he brings cover the cost of all the damage he does?

 

[axletramp]

Oil prices are finding their way up, so his Venezuelan crude money could persuade a team into hiring him.

But I wonder. Does the money that he brings cover the cost of all the damage he does?

The medical bills, yes.

You never know, he might have had an AI update.

 

[calvins48]

It feels like Mercedes will settle for Wherlein. They 100% want to keep him as a reserve driver that they farm out to other teams but he's their only option.

Kobayashi, Maldonado, Di Resta, Sainz, Button - all the fantasy "I'd love to see" picks are way off the board. Realistically, none of them are going to Mercedes since that's not how the team operates.

They wanted Bottas, they're not getting Bottas. No matter how much they negotiate, Williams have everything to lose
and nothing to gain out of it.

They will have a board meeting tomorrow to discuss who the potential replacement will be.

They're stalling because it looks good, but Pascal Wherlein will be in the '17 Mercedes.

 

[Samus]

that's not how the team operates.

How does the team operate, exactly?

and nothing to gain out of it.

The gain is free engines. Unless you're some sort of insider I don't see how you can say for certain the Bottas deal is off, nor any other.

 

[calvins48]

How does the team operate, exactly?

The gain is free engines. Unless you're some sort of insider I don't see how you can say for certain the Bottas deal is off, nor any other.

The team is very direct and nonchalant. They won't go and get anyone of those drivers because "the fans think it'd be cool." They have shareholders and people behind the scenes you don't see that have a huge say in a monumental decision like a driver change.

Pat Symonds has already said that they're not letting Bottas go. Free engines isn't enough of a replacement for losing a veteran driver in 2017 - an era where a veteran driver in a team is a must. So Williams have to contend 2017 with rookie Lance Stroll and another new driver? Never going to happen.

The bosses at Mercedes have an interesting meeting tomorrow...

 

[TenEightyOne]

Pat Symonds has already said that they're not letting Bottas go. Free engines isn't enough of a replacement for losing a veteran driver in 2017 - an era where a veteran driver in a team is a must. So Williams have to contend 2017 with rookie Lance Stroll and another new driver? Never going to happen.

And one of those drivers has to be over 25 in the terms of Martini's contract.

This will be one of the reasons that Mercedes have delayed their decision to next year after their earlier promise to resolve the place by the end of December this year.

EDIT: And on that bombshell... Claire Williams says they will let Bottas go to Mercedes if they can find a "credible" alternative. BBC. Massa back for one more year... at Mercedes' expense?

 

[axletramp]

Looks like Bottas leaving Williams is imminent. Sky News reported that they could be talking Massa out of retirement as a replacement (sort of).

I called the Bottas move, not sure I would have predicted the Massa part though.

EDIT: Ah tree'd.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Meanwhile, Autosport is reporting that Massa un-retiring is only a possibility. They have also previously run a story saying that Mercedes won't announce Rosberg's replacement until the new year

 

[doblocruiser]

What about Bottas to Mercedes, Massa staying in retirement and Jenson Button for one year to Williams?

 

[Touring Mars]

LH is quoted as saying that Mercedes are contractually obliged to discuss Rosberg's replacement with him - not that surprising, but he has made it clear that although Mercedes can hire whoever they like, LH thinks that hiring Alonso is 'not the best idea'

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...edes-valtteri-bottas-fernando-alonso-williams

 

[Dotini]

Just to be clear, and as a practical matter:
Unless Mercedes can find a driver capable of taking points from Hamilton, in my mind Lewis is the crushing, overwhelming favorite for the '17 title, rules changes notwithstanding. Kinda boring, but hey, that's GP racing.

 

[Tired Tyres]

That's assuming Mercedes find the best solution to the new rules. A reasonable assumption to make but not guaranteed.

 

[Samus]

Pat Symonds has already said that they're not letting Bottas go. Free engines isn't enough of a replacement for losing a veteran driver in 2017 - an era where a veteran driver in a team is a must. So Williams have to contend 2017 with rookie Lance Stroll and another new driver? Never going to happen.

You were saying?

 

[axletramp]

 

[twitcher]

That's assuming Mercedes find the best solution to the new rules. A reasonable assumption to make but not guaranteed.

After reading be latest by Ross Brawn on Motorsport.com, and learning more about what went on in 2011, 2012, and 2013, I'm now much more inclined to have less faith in Merc for next year.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Just to be clear, and as a practical matter:
Unless Mercedes can find a driver capable of taking points from Hamilton, in my mind Lewis is the crushing, overwhelming favorite for the '17 title, rules changes notwithstanding. Kinda boring, but hey, that's GP racing.

In all honesty, I think RBR should be pretty spectacular next year. It's only a wild guess, but I'll make them my #1 pick for next year.

 

[Samus]

Why the bookies have stopped taking bets on Valtteri Bottas to Mercedes F1 team

https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2016...-bets-on-valtteri-bottas-to-mercedes-f1-team/

 

[prisonermonkeys]

LH is quoted as saying that Mercedes are contractually obliged to discuss Rosberg's replacement with him - not that surprising, but he has made it clear that although Mercedes can hire whoever they like, LH thinks that hiring Alonso is 'not the best idea'

I doubt that he will have the final say over who partners him, or that he will have veto power. No doubt he will want someone that he can easily beat, but at the very least, Mercedes will want someone who can help win the Constructors' title. If those two demands come into conflict, Mercedes will win out.

I think RBR should be pretty spectacular next year.

Most people in the paddock seem to be tipping them to at least stand their ground and make Mercedes work for it.

 

[DK]

Why the bookies have stopped taking bets on Valtteri Bottas to Mercedes F1 team

https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2016...-bets-on-valtteri-bottas-to-mercedes-f1-team/

Dammit, why didn't I see that?

Oh well, I had a small each-way bet on him to win the 2017 title about a couple of weeks ago when he was 33/1.

 

[calvins48]

You were saying?

I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong, but the tone of your snarky reply isn't appreciated.

You should treat other posters with a little respect, in my opinion.

While it hasn't been confirmed, if I'm wrong, I'm wrong. Feel sorry for Williams if Bottas does go though.

 

[Tired Tyres]

I doubt that he will have the final say over who partners him, or that he will have veto power. No doubt he will want someone that he can easily beat, but at the very least, Mercedes will want someone who can help win the Constructors' title. If those two demands come into conflict, Mercedes will win out.


Most people in the paddock seem to be tipping them to at least stand their ground and make Mercedes work for it.

Alain Prost had power of Veto at McLaren. He used it to block them signing Piquet. He felt he couldn't use it again to block the signing of Senna. I therefore don't think it would be unusual for the top end drivers to have that sort of thing in their contracts.

In Hamilton's case, Mercedes do not know they will have the best car next season. They can go into it with confidence but nothing stops someone else, especially Red Bull, doing a better job. They therefore HAVE to keep their primary driver happy. I doubt they will sign anyone without his okay.

 

[twitcher]

I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong, but the tone of your snarky reply isn't appreciated.

You should treat other posters with a little respect, in my opinion.

While it hasn't been confirmed, if I'm wrong, I'm wrong. Feel sorry for Williams if Bottas does go though.

I think youre finding hostility where there is none.

Fair play to you admitting you might be wrong, but don't forget...you did start your end of the convo with a lot of very matter-of-fact type of statements. If you're going to push your personal speculation as fact, be prepared to catch some tongue in cheek ridicule for it when you end up being wrong.

Take it as a lesson to take everything you hear in the media with a grain of salt - especially regarding F1 and the silly season.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I doubt they will sign anyone without his okay.

And I doubt they will turn down someone simply because he disapproves. Gone are the days when one driver could plausibly win the WCC on their own, and given the strengths of both Red Bull and Ferrari's driver line-ups, it's practically impossible. If Hamilton is arrogant enough to believe that he can single-handedly win the WCC for the sake of making his WDC campaign easier, Mercedes will almost certainly lose.

Mercedes might want to keep him happy, but they also know that giving him too much power creates disharmony within the team.

 

[aarror]

In Hamilton's case, Mercedes do not know they will have the best car next season. They can go into it with confidence but nothing stops someone else, especially Red Bull, doing a better job. They therefore HAVE to keep their primary driver happy. I doubt they will sign anyone without his okay.

Huh, I see it as the complete opposite. With no guarantee that they'll be quickest Mercedes should be looking to put the best driver available in the car, regardless of what Hamilton thinks. From their POV the constuctor's championship is what matters, and in a close battle with Red Bull and Ferrari Hamilton would need a strong teammate if Merc are to come out ahead.