Silly Season 2016/2017

[Manoah2u]

Alonso has 5 years of F1 left in him, 3 the least. He just needs to be in a championship-contending team.

3 years - like he did with MCL - would be a decent deal.

Mercedes would welcome Alonso if for example Hamilton would get out. Again, guaranteed race-winner and former WDC.
Rosberg might become WDC but that's purely due to the insanely fast car he's got, not down to quality. Kvyat would home that car in 2nd or 1st if HAM has DNF.
hell, ericsson or haryanto would.

Alonso @ Mercedes would be marketing-wise a win-win situation. It would be a perfect 'follow up' after Hamilton. They both sell. I even think Alonso would be more fitting
for the Mercedes brand image. Alonso is less 'wannabe-gangster' (and i'm saying that as a hamilton fan), and more 'down to earth'. He has a whole bunch more of marketing
value than Rosberg, Ricciardo, whatever anyway.

Alonso having a final run to 2020 with Merc seems absolutely possible to me. He could with RedBull. After all, Renault has been a successfull combo. This time it won't be
enstone, but he wheeled in his WDC's with a Renault-powered car.

Mclaren HAS to bring it in before this year is 3/4 over, Honda HAS to sort themselves out or i have ZERO doubt, that by the end of THIS year, Alonso raises the finger at the
empty promises of Mclaren-Honda and Ron Dennis. The project failed, it did not work, it did not happen , and to be honest, it's just not ever gonna happen. It's sad that Alonso
has been in this situation for the duration of this period, but well, it is what it is.

Either way, Ferrari is still not in the position to bring in a WDC, so Alonso has point there. I am doubtfull whether they are gonna make it in 2017.
A thrilling 'end' to his F1 career would be welcome in the form of one more run for glory.

Unfortunately, i am starting to believe that Alonso's WDC possibilities are simply over, and never gonna come again. He had some great runs @ Ferrari, too bad it did not happen.
I really wanted to see Alonso break Vettel's dominance with his Ferrari, but it never happened. Mclaren Honda would have been awesome but it should have happened already,
and it's not happening. I think it's over.

Either way, i HOPE he'll be @ Mercedes or RedBull next year.

[ScottB]

There's zero chance of Alonso getting a Merc seat, and even less chance of a Red Bull one!

I think he'll leave F1 after Mclaren.

[Vasconia]

There's zero chance of Alonso getting a Merc seat, and even less chance of a Red Bull one!

I think he'll leave F1 after Mclaren.

Absolutely, only a catastrophic crisis in Mercedes would give the chance to happen this.

I really think that 2017 will be Alonso´s final season unless he has a truly dominant car.

[Vasconia]

Remember that Mercedes said the exact same thing when they were negotiating with Hamilton??

Just a tactic that is being used, also Ron Dennis said that Alonso has a watertight contract without clauses.
Now maybe given Mclarens current situation, RD would reconsider letting Alonso go?

If he lets Alonso go, it would be like to say "our project is a failure". I cant see Ron doing this.

[TwanV]

Besides, they have Wehrlein: He's great.

[iotar__]

Remember that Mercedes said the exact same thing when they were negotiating with Hamilton??
Just a tactic that is being used, also Ron Dennis said that Alonso has a watertight contract without clauses.
Now maybe given Mclarens current situation, RD would reconsider letting Alonso go?

No I don't remember because it didn't happen . Give quotes by Toto Wolff about Hamilton leaving and Alonso replacing him while negotiating contract. Here are made up examples, the last one is important , imagine them saying publicly:

- Marchionne: Priority is to keep Arrivabene but if he doesn't sign we'll consider others like Ross Brawn
- Marko: Priority is to keep Riciardo but if he doesn't shut up/sign we'll consider others like Sainz jr
- Arrivabene: Priority is to keep Raikkonen but if he doesn't sign for 0$ we'll consider others like Mickey Mouse or Beckham
- Wolff: Priority is to keep Rosberg but if he doesn't sign for 1/4 of Hamilton's contract or .... (fill it with any preferential treatment related to the current season) we'll consider Alonso, that's what saying "his" decision means nothing without details

It might be negotiating tactics, quite right, but what's the purpose:
- contracts are used as a carrot-stick in drivers' management
- it's not normal that a driver winning everything is not getting a fat contract from Mercedes but his leaving is discussed again publicly (1st time after winning Abu Dhabi),
- weird that something that is a "priority" is a priority for 6 months and mainly in interviews, without explanation or arguments for both sides.
- from Rosberg's side only variable is money, he can lose '16 championship and the best car, that's why it's Wolff yapping about it not him

[WaikeCU]

If Alonso is not coming to Merc, how about Raikkonen, thus meaning Rosberg will switch seats with Raikkonen? Kimi only wants to drive for a potential race winning/championship winning car.

[Sonador]

Remember that Mercedes said the exact same thing when they were negotiating with Hamilton??
Just a tactic that is being used, also Ron Dennis said that Alonso has a watertight contract without clauses.
Now maybe given Mclarens current situation, RD would reconsider letting Alonso go?

No I don't remember because it didn't happen . Give quotes by Toto Wolff about Hamilton leaving and Alonso replacing him while negotiating contract.

Toto Wolf when negotiating with Hamilton contract:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/mercedes-line- ... gh-1481788

Toto Wolf when negotiating with Rosberg contract:
http://www.thisisf1.com/2016/05/17/alon ... hisisF1%29

[iotar__]

Remember that Mercedes said the exact same thing when they were negotiating with Hamilton??
Just a tactic that is being used, also Ron Dennis said that Alonso has a watertight contract without clauses.
Now maybe given Mclarens current situation, RD would reconsider letting Alonso go?

No I don't remember because it didn't happen . Give quotes by Toto Wolff about Hamilton leaving and Alonso replacing him while negotiating contract.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/mercedes-line- ... gh-1481788

OK I was wrong.

There are differences though:
- saying that publicly at specific points during the season (after AD and after Spanish GP) means more than saying it before the season (article is from January '15)
- it's 1,5 of age for Alonso which is important whether you like it or not, Schumacher: the best example, argument is not as strong
- edit, I remembered the third one , context of the first time Rosberg's contract was mentioned, it was "drivers tension that may lead to letting one of them go" and directly after that information about Rosberg's contract negotiating being delayed.

[Sonador]

I agree that the timing of this statement is very odd, so i guess that they had enough of Rosberg ...

[iotar__]

I agree that the timing of this statement is very odd, so i guess that they had enough of Rosberg ...

...enough of Rosberg and Mercedes winning everything ?

[ScottB]

I agree that the timing of this statement is very odd, so i guess that they had enough of Rosberg ...

Nico needs Mercedes more than Mercedes needs Nico.

It's a negotiating tactic, nothing more. To keep Nico from thinking he can ask for more money, presumably!

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Link - Boselli on Rosberg to Ferrari rumours



Quite a possibility. Nico's contract ends this year and Kimi is only on optional contract for next year.

Link - Is Ferrari Flirting With Mercedes F1's Nico Rosberg?

Whispers have surfaced that Ferrari have initiated talks with current championship leader Nico Rosberg, motivated by the German driver's expiring contract at the end of this season.

According to Italian website Corriere, the two parties are talking about a collaboration starting next year, which would see Rosberg team up with Sebastian Vettel, giving Ferrari an arguably stronger driver lineup than they currently have with Vettel and Raikkonen.

Though Raikkonen is a former Champion and a very good driver, some people consider him to be too inconsistent - plus now that Max Verstappen is off the table, Rosberg could become the next premiere big name to be available, if he will indeed choose to leave Mercedes.

Rosberg can also renegotiate his contract with Mercedes this summer and flirting with Ferrari could offer him more leverage in terms of a pay bump, if he decides to stay where he's at. Some also think that Rosberg would be accepted easily by Vettel since both drivers are of the same nationality and always seem to get along well during post-race sessions.

Of course, if tensions wouldn't be where they are between Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari probably wouldn't feel as confident approaching him regarding a deal for next year.

If it does happen, which rising F1 star do you guys think should be pursued by Mercedes to fill the empty seat?

[dren]

Rosberg is probably shopping for the best deal, I don't see him leaving Mercedes unless he wants to get away from Hamilton.

I don't think Ferrari was ever interested in Verstappen. They have historically picked experienced drivers. They have Vettel. I would expect them to either renew Raikkonen or pick an experienced individual like Grossjean, Perez, Heidfeld, or Rosberg. I'd pick Rosberg out of that bunch.

[Vasconia]

I agree that the timing of this statement is very odd, so i guess that they had enough of Rosberg ...

...enough of Rosberg and Mercedes winning everything ?

Because no team wants a driver who can make poles and win races and be as fast as Hamilton...

Its only pure marketing to get a better deal. If Hamilton "may" have problems with Nico, what could happen with Max or Fernando? I guess the only option which could be possible would be Ricciardo.