Silly season 2016

[astracrazy]

when they can let nico go for free there is no way merc will sack lewis, just how much would that cost them to pay out his newly signed mega bucks contract. ferrari paid kimi off a mint, this would be something else.

[PlatinumZealot]

It won't cost them a dime. Toto is not stupid. He will put a firing clause in there. as long as it is within good reason they can fire him. Kimi is notable for bein paid off by Ferrari because there was virtually no reason to sack him. He was a good team player performed well... he had the consideration to leave a few magnums in the fridge.. What I am saying is Hamilton can get fired for "not upholding company values" or some crap like that.

[Jolle]

For the ROS/HAM situation, with ROS' contract ending in 2016, he will need to clinch the WC next year to stay in the team. Toto and Merc are no fools, in HAM they have their WC, great for marketing and a contract until 2018. They need a possible new team leader in 2019 and beyond. I think they are already looking at guys like Verstappen and Riciardo to first fill ROS his place and take over as team leader in 2019 (bit like SENNA/PROST in 1988....)

But... if ROS pulls it off to finally, for the first time since F3 to beat HAM and become WC, he might get a contract for one or two years.
And basically, this has nothing to do with raw speed or who is better then who, put pure politics and time.

I can see HAM, if the --- hits the fan to find a spot at Ferrari/McLaren or another WC possible winning team, but I don't think ROS will get offers like that...

[dans79]

If justice exists Lewis should be the fired guy(if someone should be fired), because he does Little to keep a good atmoshere inside the team.

lol yea ok.....

[Schuttelberg]

To be fairly honest, I think both Hamilton and Rosberg have had their moments this year. I also believe, that all is not well behind closed doors at Mercedes between the drivers. But, it hardly ever is when team mates fight for the WDC. In my time as a F1 fan, I only ever recall the '09 Brawn team with Button and Barrichello where the team mates relations were not frosty. Mind you, Rubens had a fair go at the team once that year.

I genuinely believe that when so much is at stake, things will get heated up. People seem to forget the pressure Mercedes are under to deliver. I say that because I still don't believe they're an in and out racing team. By that, I don't mean the chaps at Brackley, I mean Mercedes. If they have two RBR style years, they might pack up.

Overall, I think this is simply an ear tweak of both drivers by Wolff. Personally speaking, they've been quite well behaved if you see the history of F1 team mates involved in title battles. (Prost/Senna, Piquet/Mansell, Alonso/Hamilton)

Just for the record, people seriously think Mercedes might change the drivers? I think they'll be quite daft to. I think these are all empty threats. In the event they opt to not renew Rosberg's contract, I can bet my bottom dollar Ferrari will sign him.

[PlatinumZealot]

That is right.

it has to be noted that the message was also aimed at the mechanics. The mechanics have taken sides and their clannish behavior had been getting out of hand.

[Schuttelberg]

That is right.

it has to be noted that the message was also aimed at the mechanics. The mechanics have taken sides and their clannish behavior had been getting out of hand.

I think Mercedes have over exaggerated their issues in the past couple of years to draw attention away from the dominance/sporting regulations. This is just my opinion. I think Hamilton was agitated when the season ended as was Rosberg mid season. As a team boss, it's exactly the thing I want to see in my drivers provided they know their limits, which I think his drivers have done fairly well. I don't expect Lewis/Nico to be all hunky dory when the other guy wins. It's simply not in a racing drivers DNA.

As a Ferrari fan, I'd be happy to see either get sacked because they're a very strong pairing.

[dans79]

That is right.

it has to be noted that the message was also aimed at the mechanics. The mechanics have taken sides and their clannish behavior had been getting out of hand.

That's just human nature though.

[FrukostScones]

ALO MAL at Renault 2016

or ALO BUE

[Shrieker]

Wolf's gonna fire either of his drivers ? Get real. No publicity is bad publicity i guess

[djos]

Wolf's gonna fire either of his drivers ? Get real. No publicity is bad publicity i guess

agreed, the rumours are just plain silly!

[ChrisF1]

ALO MAL at Renault 2016

or ALO BUE

That is silly. Maldonando, Palmer have contracts at Lotus (Renault) and Alonso at Mclaren. It wouldn't make sense to do anything in 2016 which is a transitional year.

[Jolle]

So, after a very wobbly 2014 and 2015 it looks like that from 2016 and beyond the general financial status suddenly got turned around with changes to the involvement of Renault (takeover Lotus) Mercedes (adopting Manor as a kind of junior team) and Ferrari (with their support of Haas). So the grid for 2016:

Mercedes AMG (works team)
Ferrari (works)
McLaren Honda (works)
Renault (works)
RedBull TAG/Renault (big budget)
Williams Mercedes (good budget)
ToroRosso Ferrari (junior team)
Haas Ferrari (well funded/supported)
Manor Mercedes (supported)
Force India Mercedes (not too bad)
Sauber Ferrari (might be in trouble, so far so good)

F1 seems to be saved for a couple of years at least...

[Racer X]

Force India will change its name either to Johnny Walker GP or Aston Martin because Force India is now owned by Diageo.

[Joseki]

I think Sauber will be much more independent from Ferrari with Haas in F1.