Silly Season 2016/2017

[BanMeToo]

What do you mean, Vettel negotiations?

[Manoah2u]

Some people are so obsessed with their driver that they think that another driver in position is just a tactic to get 'their' driver in a better spot.
it defies all logic, but well, everybody is entitled to their opinion!

[Joseki]

Pretty strong rumors today here in Italy: Giovinazzi is going to be announced soon as a Ferrari 3rd driver. Hopefully he'll land at Sauber for next year, but I suspect Wehrlein is the best candidate for the seat.

[Vary]

Pretty strong rumors today here in Italy: Giovinazzi is going to be announced soon as a Ferrari 3rd driver. Hopefully he'll land at Sauber for next year, but I suspect Wehrlein is the best candidate for the seat.

But maybe with the rumor that KFC is in talks with Manor if there's no seat at sauber maybe eh could land at manor...

[SectorOne]

I think this is not a valid comparison. For the last two rule changes we had teams with big budget working for years towards the rule change (Bull and Honda and then Merc) without looking at current success.

All big teams definitely looked at current success as well as having their future-reg-project alongside.
Mercedes was getting faster and faster and faster from 2010 to 2013 until the regulation change.
Its true they started early but there´s nothing to say you can´t be a year ahead of everyone else aerodynamically in 2017.
Or probably more realistic, find something that others haven´t.
Engines for every year that pass should in theory converge which will only put more emphasis on aerodynamics.

[basti313]

I think this is not a valid comparison. For the last two rule changes we had teams with big budget working for years towards the rule change (Bull and Honda and then Merc) without looking at current success.

Mercedes was getting faster and faster and faster from 2010 to 2013 until the regulation change.

True. That was more the money. Big enhancement of the aero team and nearly unlimited funds over some years for the engine.

Its true they started early but there´s nothing to say you can´t be a year ahead of everyone else aerodynamically in 2017.

I will quote a wise person: "All big teams definitely looked at current success as well as having their future-reg-project alongside. "
I do not see any other team shifting personell, I do not see any other team having funds to prepare earlier with a big team of good engineers. So I do not believe in anyone being ahead. The teams with the best aero teams should have the best aero next year...so not much change on this point.

Or probably more realistic, find something that others haven´t.

True. But I do not see much room for big loopholes anymore. Every F1 journalist discussed the wheelbase already, so I do not think any big team missed to do this as well early enough.
The holy grail is more likely under the visible line, how they guide the air through the chassis. And I think Merc and maybe RedBull is already on this one.

Engines for every year that pass should in theory converge which will only put more emphasis on aerodynamics.

Also ture. But the big advantage will not vanish. Merc still has the strongest engine department and the others are in the hunt with weaker teams.

[PlatinumZealot]

There will be tonnes of aero tricks next year. You have to be really laid back not to expect it. The biger the car the bigger the canvas. The larger front wings and larger diffusers alone are enough room for one second silver bullets.

[Manoah2u]

The diffuser will have a big impact definately.

I suspect that the teams which have the biggest aero benefit will jump forward more,
and i can't help but expect RedBull to be supremely strong again.
Something of a gut feeling but i could see Mclaren make a huge leap forward too.
The old 'screwups' of Mclaren's past 4 years has been the result of people that now aren't there anymore, and quite frankly,
I think the aerodynamics of the Mclaren aren't bad at all. The Honda engine has been the biggest obstacle, and I also expect that that engine will
make a huge leap forward too. Count Mclaren in, i'd say - but then again, Bouillier, the RDennis affair, the new ZakBrown appointing show Mclaren is a mess.

Mercedes has enough funds to be still 'on a roll'.
Then again - there is a certain issue popping up around the corner next year, and that's the new tires.
Mercedes' biggest issue after taking over Brawn was the tires.
Yes, they resolved it and there doesn't seem to be a problem over the last 3 seasons, true.
But one has to wonder whether that is due to fine-tuning the design they were aiming for all along, or whether it really is understanding it.
We could see Mercedes struggle with the new tires at the start of the season.

Which brings me to the point that there are drivers out there that have a very solid capability of controlling their tires.
Drivers like Jenson Button, Sergio Perez, Max Verstappen come to mind.
Obviously JB is out, but which other drivers are 'known' for being gentle and good with tires?

Isn't Bottas rather easy on the tires? Would make an interesting choice for Mercedes, if Lewis - as i believe he is - is rather sensitive and less 'gentle'
on the tires. Then again, i could be rather mistaken there.

[ClarkBT11]

This is going off topic but Lewis could make his tyres go longer than nico so I think you are wrong. Lewis would take it easy for two laps when the tyres were new and then put in consistent fast laptimes. Williams weren't very good for tyre wear so we couldn't compare the two we still might not be able to next year or have I missed something?

I hope the tyres next year are the complete opposite and don't need TLC.

[TAG]

The silly season in full gear...

This is what will drive the sport in America, worth a read.
http://time.com/lewis-hamilton-formula-one/

Interestingly the only other modern cover I can spot with an F1 driver is...

[Restomaniac]

This is going off topic but Lewis could make his tyres go longer than nico so I think you are wrong. Lewis would take it easy for two laps when the tyres were new and then put in consistent fast laptimes. Williams weren't very good for tyre wear so we couldn't compare the two we still might not be able to next year or have I missed something?

I hope the tyres next year are the complete opposite and don't need TLC.

Indeed.
Hamilton was able to go from full wets to slicks in Monaco. No driver that is hard on his tyres would have been able to pull off that trick.

[lio007]

Lauda & Marko on ServusTV a few minutes ago (some bits are already known):
- according to lauda all drivers from the grid made a call (incl. RIC & VES)
- RIC & VES have a contract til end of 2018
- driver decision will be made by Lauda and Wolff, no word on Paddy Lowe
- decision is expected by the end of January, maybe a little bit earlier
- the whole Merc team pretty unhappy with current situation
- Marko told about / confirmed an all-new Renault PU

[iotar__]

Lauda & Marko on ServusTV a few minutes ago (some bits are already known):
- according to lauda all drivers from the grid made a call (incl. RIC & VES)
- RIC & VES have a contract til end of 2018
- driver decision will be made by Lauda and Wolff, no word on Paddy Lowe
- decision is expected by the end of January, maybe a little bit earlier
- the whole Merc team pretty unhappy with current situation
- Marko told about / confirmed an all-new Renault PU

- Endless noise, decision has been made.
- I thought Lauda was non-executive?
- Re: bold part (contradictory). Did they call Merc with 'I have a contract' info ?
- Backslapping and playing along with each other BS. Tell us Renault/Merc/Red Bull engine story instead to cheer up "unhappy" team.

[SR71]

Lauda & Marko on ServusTV a few minutes ago (some bits are already known):
- according to lauda all drivers from the grid made a call (incl. RIC & VES)
- RIC & VES have a contract til end of 2018
- driver decision will be made by Lauda and Wolff, no word on Paddy Lowe
- decision is expected by the end of January, maybe a little bit earlier
- the whole Merc team pretty unhappy with current situation
- Marko told about / confirmed an all-new Renault PU

- Endless noise, decision has been made.
- I thought Lauda was non-executive?
- Re: bold part (contradictory). Did they call Merc with 'I have a contract' info ?
- Backslapping and playing along with each other BS. Tell us Renault/Merc/Red Bull engine story instead to cheer up "unhappy" team.

Source?

[nevill3]

Source?

He said Servus TV