The F1 driver transfer discussion/speculation archiveFormula 1

[twitcher]

So let's imagine that TR let both Kvyat and Sainz go at the end of the year. Who would the fill the seats with?

Gasly, who I think it's debatable if he's ready or not...or ever will be. Let's see how GP2 goes this year.

And who else? I can't even think of a second Redbull Junior driver who is ready. Is there someone I'm forgetting?


As for where the two current drivers go, I think Kvyat to either Force India or maybe Haas is his best bet. I'm sure he has a shot at landing a drive with Sauber too if he really wanted it. As for Sainz, I think a drive at Williams is a possibility - I saw James Allen mention that, not an original thought.

Alex Lynn may rue the day he left the Redbull Junior program

 

[prisonermonkeys]

If Bernie's able to cozy up to Putin, I wouldn't put it past the latter to pump money into SMP Racing for the greater glory of Russia.

Bernie isn't going to bankroll a team.

If it were to happen, I imagine that SMP would buy the naming rights to an existing team.

Failing that, they may make an alliance with a junior team to push into Formula One. Teddy Yip of Theodore Racing has pretty much given up on Status Grand Prix, and instead put the Theodore name to Prema Powerteam. He's also got a deal with Rahal Letterman Lanigan in IndyCar. So maybe some SMP-Theodore-Prema tie-up would work.

 

[Kingofweasles]

Bernie isn't going to bankroll a team.

If it were to happen, I imagine that SMP would buy the naming rights to an existing team.

Failing that, they may make an alliance with a junior team to push into Formula One. Teddy Yip of Theodore Racing has pretty much given up on Status Grand Prix, and instead put the Theodore name to Prema Powerteam. He's also got a deal with Rahal Letterman Lanigan in IndyCar. So maybe some SMP-Theodore-Prema tie-up would work.

SMP kind of already have a foot in the door in Indycar through Mikhail Alesin and Schmidt-Peterson Racing, but a link-up in GP2 would make sense.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

SMP kind of already have a foot in the door in Indycar through Mikhail Alesin and Schmidt-Peterson Racing, but a link-up in GP2 would make sense.

It's not the best shot in the world, but they're already one step ahead of you:

The SMP Racing name also appeared on the rear wing of the Renaults in Sochi and on Sirotkin's Rapax last year.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Alex Lynn may rue the day he left the Redbull Junior program

He may, but I don't think Red Bull will. Based on his form last year, he lacked the qualities Red Bull want. A lot of the talk around Verstappen was his ability to decisively move up through the field; Lynn doesn't have that. He can hold a position, but I don't think that I ever saw him make a definitive move for position.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

So, I have to wonder: how much longer can Mercedes keep their drivers happy? And what happens if thry can't?

 

[twitcher]

The silly season gets even stoopider

 

[FutureF1]

Well if Nico keeps going, it'd be stupid for Mercedes to drop him. Hamilton is under contract so I reckon they'll be teammates in 2017 again. After that I don't know but unless Hamilton ditches his contract, I doubt he'll leave. Same with Rosberg, though Rosberg has been in the team since 2010 so I don't think he'd just walk out without decent justification.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The silly season gets even stoopider

What, you think it's unreasonable to question their current situation?

This isn't the first time contact has happened; if it was, I wouldn't be asking. It's probably the most dramatic incident between them, and I have to wonder about Mercedes' management style. Toto Wolff is ever the diplomat, and he's good at making people feel better about it and letting cooler heads prevail, but if episodes like this keep happening - and they do - then just how effective is it? Ted Kravitz interviewed Marc Priestley before qualifying and he said NcLaren lost the 2007 title because of their mismanagement. While I doubt Mercedes will lose the 2016 title, there's a history of being unable to manage their drivers properly.

 

[twitcher]

What, you think it's unreasonable to question their current situation?

This isn't the first time contact has happened; if it was, I wouldn't be asking. It's probably the most dramatic incident between them, and I have to wonder about Mercedes' management style. Toto Wolff is ever the diplomat, and he's good at making people feel better about it and letting cooler heads prevail, but if episodes like this keep happening - and they do - then just how effective is it? Ted Kravitz interviewed Marc Priestley before qualifying and he said NcLaren lost the 2007 title because of their mismanagement. While I doubt Mercedes will lose the 2016 title, there's a history of being unable to manage their drivers properly.

I think you misinterpreted what I meant.

I can totally see reason to question the situation. Not saying it's gaurenteed one or both are out, but it's reasonable to debat.

What I meant by "silly season gets stoopider" was that if Nico does become a free agent, and there is a Merc seat available, the game of musical chairs, aka the silly season, for the 2017 driver lineup will be quite...silly...or stoopid


For fun, I'd like to see Alonso vs Hamilton in the Mercs. Actually Rosberg could just swap with Alonso....he helped Merc build a race winner, I'm sure he has tons of knowledge McLaren could use . Knowing Alonso's history though, if he did switch, McLaren would probably build a winner for 2017 and the Merc will be a dud

 

[prisonermonkeys]

What I meant by "silly season gets stoopider" was that if Nico does become a free agent, and there is a Merc seat available, the game of musical chairs, aka the silly season, for the 2017 driver lineup will be quite...silly...or stoopid

At this point, I think it's far more likely that Hamilton will walk away. There's already a rumour of his taking a break in 2017. But more to the point, he's already won two titles with Mercedes - how many drivers have won titles with three teams? That would be a pretty impressive record to have. If he left, Ferrari would probably pick him up straight away. Red Bull might pick him up, though it would probably mean cutting Ricciardo loose (Mercedes would take him in an instant).

 

[twitcher]

At this point, I think it's far more likely that Hamilton will walk away. There's already a rumour of his taking a break in 2017. But more to the point, he's already won two titles with Mercedes - how many drivers have won titles with three teams? That would be a pretty impressive record to have. If he left, Ferrari would probably pick him up straight away. Red Bull might pick him up, though it would probably mean cutting Ricciardo loose (Mercedes would take him in an instant).

I heard that rumor on Sky, although when I first heard it, it was them saying "it wasn't true".

I actually said earlier this year that it looked like his heart wasn't in it, and that I could see him walk away to try something like NASCAR. I got laughed at for saying it....but seems I'm not the only one with the thought

Who all needs a contract for next year? Alonso, Rosberg, Verstappen?, Ricciardo?, Button, Bottas, Massa, Raikonen, Grosjean, Hulkenberg, Sainz, Kvyat...

I think Vettel and Hamilton are the only ones with contracts for next year

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I think Vettel and Hamilton are the only ones with contracts for next year

Vettel, Hülkenberg, Alonso, Ricciardo, Hamilton and Verstappen are all under contract. And Dieter Zetche apparently told Autosprint that Rosberg has just re-signed for 2017, although the deal hasn't been formally announced.

 

[twitcher]

Vettel, Hülkenberg, Alonso, Ricciardo, Hamilton and Verstappen are all under contract. And Dieter Zetche apparently told Autosprint that Rosberg has just re-signed for 2017, although the deal hasn't been formally announced.

My mistake, I thought Hulk and Alonso were done there contracts at the end of this season.

 

[Roger the Horse]

How many drivers have won titles with three teams?

Fangio won with Alfa Romeo, Mercedes Benz, Ferrari, and Maserati.

 

[twitcher]

Fangio won with Alfa Romeo, Mercedes Benz, Ferrari, and Maserati.

And Prost with Renault, McLaren, and Williams.

 

[Roger the Horse]

Prost won three titles with McLaren and one with Williams.

 

[twitcher]

He won 3 with McLaren? And I thought he won one with Renault.....I must not be fully awake yet

Edit: Ya I'm on crack.....going for another coffee

 

[marco89IT]

There are rumors on the Italian press about talks between Rosberg and Ferrari for 2017. The journalist which reported it, Giorgio Terruzzi, isn't the usual attention-seeker, for a number of reasons. This of course doesn't mean the information is reliable, but he's way above the Italian media average. He also mentions that it can just be related to the contract Rosberg is about to sign with Mercedes, with Nico trying to obtain a better deal.

 

[TenEightyOne]

The rumour is gathering pace, the source is one that's often good (if indeed it's Terruzzi). As he points out though, Rosberg would have to be prepared to work in a team that doesn't allow their drivers to race (or at least rarely does so), and he'd have to be assured that Ferrari can actually become a solid race-winner. We keep expecting that final push but never seeing it.

There's also the fact that Rosberg stands to gain by feeding rumours at contract-time, hmmm, I wonder what was said last time the contract-negotiation period was coming up?

 

[mikeerfol]

I thought Ferrari didn't want 2 German drivers in their team...

 

[FutureF1]

Why would rosberg sign up as a #2 driver??? If he wins this year, he's staying with merc

 

[Dennisch]

I thought Rosberg had just signed for 2017 at Mercedes?

 

[marco89IT]

I thought Ferrari didn't want 2 German drivers in their team...

They can always say he's a citizen of the world, he's half Finnish and lives in Monte Carlo . Other than that, his Italian is basically perfect and I'm pretty sure he speaks at least 5 languages. Talking merely about PR stuff, I would say Rosberg is one of the best options in F1 nowadays, not only for his speaking skills.

 

[Peter.]

I'm pretty sure he speaks at least 5 languages.

Funny enough, none of which are Finnish.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I thought Rosberg had just signed for 2017 at Mercedes?

Zetche reportedly told Autosprint that the deal has been done, but it hasn't been formally announced yet.

 

[Peter.]

Rosberg to Ferrari makes little sense to me. There's no reason Ferrari would want Rosberg as he's neither better than Vettel nor is he much of an upgrade on Kimi, if at all.

Then on the other hand he has a better chance winning races and titles as a number 2 (but not really) to Hamilton than as a number 2 (undeniably given how Ferrari operate) to Vettel, and Ferrari have no reason to pay him any more than what Mercedes may offer him for 2017.

If Ferrari really want Kimi out, there's other, cheaper drivers who will do the number 2 job with little fuss. Grosjean comes to mind if he keeps up his current form.

 

[A2K78]

Rosberg should stay put period...question now is who get to replace Kimi when he retires.

If anything the silly season could become interesting.

BTW think TR should really look at Rossi should DK end up being replaced.

 

[TenEightyOne]

If Ferrari really want Kimi out, there's other, cheaper drivers who will do the number 2 job with little fuss. Grosjean comes to mind if he keeps up his current form.

My feeling is that unless Grosjean really messes up that's a slam-dunk option if Kimi leaves at the end of 2016.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

if Kimi leaves at the end of 2016.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ferrari drop him at the end of the year regardless of how he performs - he hasn't got many more seasons in him. If Ferrari keep him on a rolling one-year contract, waiting for the "perfect" driver to replace him, there's a real risk that they will miss the boat altogether and be stuck with someone like Heikki Kovalainen at McLaren.