Silly Season 2016/2017

[Jolle]

With the last two big rule changes the Brackley team hit it out of the park, so on a chances level, Mercedes is the place to be.
I guess there are three things important to a driver like alo: paycheck, amount of work outside the car and succes. With mclaren, the last two seasons, he had it easy in the first two categories, just the succes bit that's missing.

It would be fun to see Alo next to Ham again. But... also under consideration, Ham has been loyal to Mercedes for 18 years now (and vv) and alo never really showed that trade. After last season it would be chic from Mercedes to consentrate on Ham and don't get another title rival in the team straight away.

[tonmeister]

My list is Sainz, Bottas and Wherlein on that order of chance for it happening. Alonso would be the wildcard (too costly to be practical for Mercedes)

I'm surprised that nobody is counting on Sainz. He is fast, serious, young but experienced and committed. He also comes with no attachment...

We´ll soon find out!

[Gaz.]

My list is Sainz, Bottas and Wherlein on that order of chance for it happening. Alonso would be the wildcard (too costly to be practical for Mercedes)

I'm surprised that nobody is counting on Sainz. He is fast, serious, young but experienced and committed. He also comes with no attachment...

We´ll soon find out!

Is he not contracted to Red Bull for next year?

[GM7]

Sainz is a super driver but Marko will never let Mercedes take Sainz.

[nevill3]

I do not believe than Paddy is leaving Mercedes, the way I interpreted the interview was that he and Toto postponed the contract talks because they both knew that he would be staying (just like Hamilton's and Rosberg's negotiations) and they did not need the distraction of dotting the i's and crossing the t's during the season. It was much easier to leave things until the closed season and get together then to thrash out a new deal. All this talk of him leaving is based on the fact that the talks were postponed. Paddy himself has said he does not see any reason to make a change at this time after all he has been involved with Mercedes over 30 years!

edit sorry meant over 20 years not 30

[NL_Fer]

Sainz is a super driver but Marko will never let Mercedes take Sainz.

I agree, but Redbull is "full" with Ricciardo and Verstappen. Do you think they keep hands on Saintz, just as a reserve?

[ME4ME]

I agree, but Redbull is "full" with Ricciardo and Verstappen. Do you think they keep hands on Saintz, just as a reserve?

Of course. As long as they need him they'll keep signing the options they have on him.

[godlameroso]

Which is a shame as TR is clearly holding him back. He deserves a top drive after the speed he's shown.

[Jolle]

Sainz is a super driver but Marko will never let Mercedes take Sainz.

I agree, but Redbull is "full" with Ricciardo and Verstappen. Do you think they keep hands on Saintz, just as a reserve?

Not only that Sainz is their "insurance", but he's also the product (in mercedes' view) of their rivals junior program. Having to sign him would mean that their own program is flawed. So far only Hamilton really broke trough (and Rosberg via a detour).

So in that respect it either should be one of their junior drivers (Ocon or Wehrlein) or a experienced driver from a (PU) partner, FI and Williams.

[NYGIANTS]

Don't know if this has been posted about Paddy Lowe going to Williams?

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/merce ... ch-858449/

[taperoo2k]

Sainz is a super driver but Marko will never let Mercedes take Sainz.

Well if Red Bulls owner says Sainz can go, Marko will have to stew in a corner.
Though I doubt Mercedes will go for him. I'm guessing they want to eventually
sign Max Verstappen when his Red Bull contract is up.

[Racer X]

So in that respect it either should be one of their junior drivers (Ocon or Wehrlein) or a experienced driver from a (PU) partner, FI and Williams.

This is how I feel which is why I think Wehrlein mainly but second Williams and FI drivers I don't take Wehrlein off as my first pick for Mercedes-Benz...

[TAG]

Can't imagine what Hamilton would be like with a dedicated number two driver like Wehrlein backing him up. That would be fun to watch especially if both Red Bull and McLaren (perhaps even Ferrari and Renault) are able to compete for podiums.

I'm actually exited with the regulations if they'd leave them along for five years along with continued PU stability and refinement.

[GM7]

Button :

(+) He's a world champion.
(+) He has a lot of experience.
(+) The relationship Button / Hamilton was good at Mclaren.
(+) He has already drive with the Honda and Mercedes Hybrid PU.

(-) He has a contract with Mclaren until 2018 (Quite difficult to broke i suppose).

(++) He's already old so he can be replace by Wehrlein or Ocon in 2 or 3 years.


Grosjean :

(+) He has 10 podiums.
(+) He has experience.
(+) He has already drive the the Renault, Mercedes and Ferrari Hybrid PU.
(+) He can give some informations about the 2017 Ferrari's suspensions.

(-) He has a contract with Haas (Quite easy to broke).

(++) He's already old so he can be replace by Wehrlein or Ocon in 2 or 3 years.


Perez :

(+) He has 7 podiums.
(+) He has experiense.
(+) He already know the Mercedes engine.
(+) He has a lot of sponsors.

(-) Still very young (bad news for Wehrlein and Ocon).
(-) He has a contract with Force India (Quite easy to broke).


Bottas :

(+) He has 9 podiums.
(+) He has experience.
(+) He knows the Mercedes engine.
(+) He's managed by Toto Wolff so his young age isn't an inconvenient for the Mercedes young driver program.

(--) Mercedes and Toto Wolff are linked with Williams, and let Williams with 2 young drivers in 2017 is a very big problem.
(-) He has a contract with Williams.


If Toto Wolff gets none of these drivers then it will be Wehrlein.

[Manoah2u]

Interestingly, if it ISNT wehrlein,
it'll have a huge impact on the race seat rosberg's replacement was taken from.

wehrlein would be the most anticlimactic descision to make. unfortunately, it's probably what itll turn out to be,
despite all the logic being completely against that decision.