2017 AMG Mercedes F1 Team - Mercedes

[Manoah2u]

Team: Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team
Base: Brackley, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
Team principal(s): Toto Wolff (Business Executive Director), Paddy Lowe (Technical Executive Director), Niki Lauda (Team Advisor)
Technical director(s): Geoff Willis, Aldo Costa, Mark Ellis
Website: http://www.mercedesamgf1.com

Race drivers: 44 Lewis Hamilton

2nd driver : TBA

Test drivers : TBA

Chassis: F1 W08 Hybrid
Engine: Mercedes V6 Turbo
2016 position: 1st (765 pts)






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This thread is to discuss the 2017 Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 TEAM

[turbof1]

Thanks Manoah!

2016 Mercedes topic unpinned.

[TAG]

Not much to talk about... yet. But Lauda did say they'll be announcing their driver before the end of the month.

Express "We certainly need a driver for the first test of the new car in February but I can assure you it will happen earlier because whoever it is we have to train them on the simulator, train him into the team.
Related articles

"I think we should have a decision before the end of the year.

"We'll give an unexpected Christmas present to one of the drivers."

[turbof1]

Not much to talk about... yet. But Lauda did say they'll be announcing their driver before the end of the month.

Manoah is in the process of creating the other 2017 team topics as well. We only fast forwarded this thread by a few days. Generally, the 2017 team threads will be early this year to accomodate team changes during the off season.

[Fifty]

Shouldn't race drivers read:
44 Lewis Hamilton (?)
2nd Driver (TBA)
Reserve Driver (TBA)

[diego.liv]

F1 2016 Mercedes 'Have To Consider Fernando Alonso'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnkPVsLybxA

[ringo]

interesting video.



Nico leaving and also prospective drivers.

[Jolle]

Let's see... the options:
- Nico Rosberg: the creator of this problem and retired
- Lewis Hamilton: can't drive two cars
- Daniel Riciardo: Red Bull will protect him at all costs
- Sebastian Vettel: same as RBR drivers, ferrari's only option at the moment (could be interesting next year!)
- Max Verstappen: see RIC
- Kimi Raikkonen: too old
- Sergio Perez: Possible, not sure how he will do under real pressure (like at mclaren)
- Valteri Bottas: very possible, but important this year for partner Williams. Might get the seat in 2018.
- Nico Hulkenberg: just made a good deal at Renault. Might be career ending if he broke contract and be replaced after a year (or two)
- Fernando Alonso: would be fun, suposetly has a watertight contract and doesn't work well with others when it doesn't go his way (or if Flavio isn't around)
- Felipe Massa: Retired and not "the future"
- Carlos Sainz: would show that Mercedes their junior program doesn't work (apart from Hamilton)
- Romain Grosjean: wants Raikkonen's seat in 2018
-Daniil Kvyat: let's say... not consistent enough...
- Jenson Button: an unretirement and return to Brackley could be fun, but to old and not fast enough in the past few seasons
- Kevin Magnussen: looks like he's not the future star we hoped for.
- Felipe Nasr: actually quite possible. Decent driver, Especially with help in the sim. Could be in the car for a year when they get Bottas or one of their junior program.
- Palmer: yeah....
- Pascal Wehrlein:no contract, AMG junior driver, decent speed. Is on pole to get the seat
- Stoffel Vandoorne: happy at McLaren
- Gutierrez: if havoc in the midfield is were your after: Esteban is your guy
- Ericsson: at least he beats Rosberg on the boring scale
- Ocon: Mercedes has bigger plans for him above Wehrlein, got the FI seat to step up in 2019/20

So... Wehrlein or Nasr for one year and then a swap with Bottas.

[Fifty]

Bottas for Lowe switch?

[kooleracer]

What do we think about the rumors of Paddy Lowe leaving and maybe James Allison being his replacement. Who would you prefer, Allison or Lowe?

I would prefer Allison instead of Lowes at this time, only it would mean that Mercedes would get decent knowledge about the secrets of the Ferrari. If Lowe would stay one, Mercedes would not get that opportunity. Ideally, Mercedes would contract Allison without Paddy leaving.

[GoranF1]

i dont think that after late development of 2016 car,all this driver distraction and Lowe rumors(surley affects develpment) that this team could be called a favorite for 2017 at this point.

[Jolle]

i dont think that after late development of 2016 car,all this driver distraction and Lowe rumors(surley affects develpment) that this team could be called a favorite for 2017 at this point.

Well, I suspect that at the moment the development of the launch and first test car is complete and they are in production now, while the designers are already busy with update one. As seen in the last few rule changes, even with all the detailing, you need the fundamentals right, they've been layed out even before the summer break and the Brackley team has a good track record on this.

If all this would influence the team, we'll won't notice it until a few months in the season as their rivals' updates work better.

[dans79]

i dont think that after late development of 2016 car,all this driver distraction and Lowe rumors(surley affects develpment) that this team could be called a favorite for 2017 at this point.

I think you will find that what you are calling late 2016 development, was actually conceptual testing of 2017 elements. Lets not forget that by mid season 2016 the WCC was all but a foregone conclusion, so they started on 2017.

[ringo]

Hamilton and toto held a meeting in toto's kitchen.
It seems toto updated him on his new teammate and what he thinks about it.
All hamilton says is that the team will be very strong.
This is looking like Alonso is in..
But you never know. Maybe a cyborg Maldonado has be developed since he left the sport..

[TigerF1]

C'mon Toto put your pride aside and get Carlos Sainz!