Silly Season 2016/2017

[ESPImperium]

The silly season has started on many forums and most certainly has started in the F1 paddock. Yes one race has just passed, but I'm just canvassing to see who and what the F1 grid would look like in 2017 with some of the wild stories and not so wild stories that have going around.

So far I'm looking at a 2017 grid like this:
Mercedes AMG: 44] Hamilton / 27] Hulkenberg
Scuderia Ferrari: 05] Vettel / 08] Grosjean
Williams-Mercedes: 77] Bottas / XX] Lynn
Red Bull-Tag Heuer(Renault): 03] Riccardo / 33] Verstappen
Haas-Ferrari: 21] Gutiérrez / 09] Ericsson
Force India-Mercedes: 11] Perez / XX] Ocon
Toro Rosso-Honda: 55] Sainz / XX] Vandoorne
Renault Sport F1: 20] Magnussen / 26] Kyat
McLaren-Honda: 22] Button / 06] Rosberg
BMW Sauber: 12] Nasr / 54] Rossi
Manor MRT-Mercedes: 94] Wehrlein / 30] Palmer

Alonso, Massa, Raikkonen all to leave the sport with a few other drivers around the edges.

As for 2016, rumour has it that if Alonso isn't medically cleared for Bahrain, Vandoorne will make his debut in F1.

[flickerf1]

My predictions for the 2017 grid:

Mercedes: Lewis & Nico (personally, I want to see Dan in the Merc).
Ferrari: Seb & Max
Williams: Felipe & Valterri
Red Bull: Daniil & Carlos
Haas: Romain & Esteban
Force India: Nico & Checo (I think one of them might get replaced by Alfonso Celis).
Toro Rosso: Alex Lynn & Esteban Ocon
Renault: Jolyon & Kevin
McLaren: Stoffel & Fernando/Jenson (couldn't pick between either of them).
Sauber: Marcus & Felipe (or Alex Rossi).
Manor: Pascal & Rio

Kimi, I feel will probably leave F1 at the end of the season for good.

P.S. You did the wrong PU manufacturer's for Toro Rosso and Sauber.

[ME4ME]

My 2017 prediction:

Mercedes: Hamilton & Rosberg
Ferrari: Vettel & Grosjean
Red Bull: Ricciardo & Verstappen
Williams: Bottas & Kvyat
Toro Rosso: Sainz & Gasly
Force India: Hulkenberg & Perez
Mclaren: Butten & Alonso
Haas: Guttierez & Rossi
Renault: Palmer & Magnussen
Sauber: Ericsson & Nasr
Manor: Wehrlein & Vandoorne

I think most drivers will stay put. Massa and Raikkonen retire. Butten and Alonso to continue, Mclaren to place Vandoorne at Manor.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

My 2017 prediction:

Mercedes: Hamilton & Rosberg
Ferrari: Vettel & Grosjean
Red Bull: Ricciardo & Verstappen
Williams: Bottas & Kvyat
Toro Rosso: Sainz & Gasly
Force India: Hulkenberg & Perez
Mclaren: Butten & Alonso
Haas: Guttierez & Rossi
Renault: Palmer & Magnussen
Sauber: Ericsson & Nasr
Manor: Wehrlein & Vandoorne

Almost perfect, the way I think too.
I strongly believe, Red Bull isn't going to release either Ricciardo or Verstappen. Verstappen though, seems like his contract is, after 2 years at Junior team, if the Sr Team isn't accommodating him, he is free to move out. Marko has already sounded that, the performance of RBR team drivers would be assessed at the end of this year. So, Kvyat, might just be out of favor. With Renault expected to make a good step by Montreal and the new car for 2017 regulation changes that Newey is working on, I don't see a reason for Ricciardo to move out.
Second, I think, Vandoorne to Manor is highly unlikely because Manor, in many ways is going to become a Mercedes B team and Esteban Ocon will probably be put in there to measure two Mercedes investments. Ocon had beaten Verstappen in their F3 outing and is a highly talented Driver.
It is a highly sensible decision to put Grosjean in Ferrari instead of anyone else on the grid. Knowing Ferrari, who prefer to have a No.1 and 2, a Ricciardo at Ferrari is only going to be a problem for them to manage. Not of attitude issues, but to stop preferential treatment to Vettel as Ricciardo is definitely going to command equal respect with his performances.
Mercedes, I don't think would tamper with the drivers. Besides being almost equally fast, the biggest strength they are offering is that, they can drive the similarly configured car, without causing preferential setup headaches ! That is the biggest bonus and fact that the Mercedes management has put the drivers into perspective and have been successful in putting a check on their issues is something extremely valuable to lose. Another high performer, could only be an issue and I am not sure if there is anyone else who could do a better job than, let's say Rosberg who is the one who stands to lose the drive as Lewis already has a contract.

[FrukostScones]

Silly as silly does:
Mercedes: HAM/ROS
Williams: WEH/BOT
ForceIndia: MAL/HUL
Ferrari: VET/PER
RB: RIC/VES
TR: SAI/dunno
Sauber: $$$/$$
Manor: Rossi/Haryanto
Renualt: BUE/MAG
HAss: GRO/GUI
McLaren: BUT/Vandoorne

[GM7]

My 2017 prediction:

Mercedes: Hamilton & Rosberg
Ferrari: Vettel & Grosjean
Red Bull: Ricciardo & Verstappen
Williams: Bottas & Massa
Toro Rosso: Sainz & Gasly
Force India: Hulkenberg & Perez
Mclaren: Button & Alonso
Haas: Guttierez & Rossi
Renault: Ocon & Magnussen
Sauber: Nasr & (Ericsson / Palmer)
Manor: Wehrleim & Vandoorne

[superdowg316]

Mine's based on Hamilton winning the championship this year:
Mercedes: 44/Hamilton + 77/Bottas
Ferrari: 5/Vettel + 21/Gutierrez
Red Bull: 3/Ricciardo + 33/Verstappen
Williams: 6/Rosberg + ?/Lynn
Force India: 27/Hulkenberg + 11/Perez
Toro Rosso: 55/Sainz + ?/Gasly
Renault: Either Palmer or Magnussen + 26/Kvyat
Sauber F1: 9/Ericsson + 12/Nasr
McLaren Honda: 14/Alonso + 47/Vandoorne
Manor F1: 94/Wehrlein + 88/Haryanto
Haas F1: 8/Grosjean + 53/Rossi

[efuloni]

Mercedes: Hamilton + Bottas
Ferrari: Vettel + Grosjean
Red Bull: Ricciardo + Verstappen
Williams: Massa + Rosberg
Force India: Kvyat + Perez
Toro Rosso: Sainz + Gasly (?)
Renault: Nasr + Hulkenberg
Sauber F1: Ericsson + $$$
McLaren Honda: Alonso + Vandoorne
Manor F1: Wehrlein +$$$
Haas F1: Gutierrez +Rossi

[CBeck113]

Why not....

Mercedes: Rosberg + Wehrlein
Ferrari: Vettel + Hamilton
Red Bull: Ricciardo + Verstappen
Williams: Massa + Kvyat
Force India: Hulkenberg + Perez
Toro Rosso: Sainz + Gasly
Renault: Nasr + Palmer
Sauber F1: Ericsson + Rossi
McLaren Honda: Alonso + Vandoorne
Manor F1: Haryanto +$$$
Haas F1: Gutierrez +Grosjean

[flickerf1]

Why not....

Mercedes: Rosberg + Wehrlein
Ferrari: Vettel + Hamilton
Red Bull: Ricciardo + Verstappen
Williams: Massa + Kvyat
Force India: Hulkenberg + Perez
Toro Rosso: Sainz + Gasly
Renault: Nasr + Palmer
Sauber F1: Ericsson + Rossi
McLaren Honda: Alonso + Vandoorne
Manor F1: Haryanto +$$$
Haas F1: Gutierrez +Grosjean

Doesn't Lewis' contract go until the end of 2018?

[Jolle]

Why not....

Mercedes: Rosberg + Wehrlein
Ferrari: Vettel + Hamilton
Red Bull: Ricciardo + Verstappen
Williams: Massa + Kvyat
Force India: Hulkenberg + Perez
Toro Rosso: Sainz + Gasly
Renault: Nasr + Palmer
Sauber F1: Ericsson + Rossi
McLaren Honda: Alonso + Vandoorne
Manor F1: Haryanto +$$$
Haas F1: Gutierrez +Grosjean

Doesn't Lewis' contract go until the end of 2018?

It does, but, hey, what's a contract worth

But there is a big chance as I see it that for 2017 Rosberg will either get a one year contract or they will replace him with a driver that could lead the team (sporting and marketing wise) for 2019 and beyond. Mercedes isn't a team that looks at short term. Or... Werhlein in next year, to have a steady second and replace Hamilton for 2019 with Max or one of the other hot rookies.

[flickerf1]

Why not....

Mercedes: Rosberg + Wehrlein
Ferrari: Vettel + Hamilton
Red Bull: Ricciardo + Verstappen
Williams: Massa + Kvyat
Force India: Hulkenberg + Perez
Toro Rosso: Sainz + Gasly
Renault: Nasr + Palmer
Sauber F1: Ericsson + Rossi
McLaren Honda: Alonso + Vandoorne
Manor F1: Haryanto +$$$
Haas F1: Gutierrez +Grosjean

Doesn't Lewis' contract go until the end of 2018?

It does, but, hey, what's a contract worth

But there is a big chance as I see it that for 2017 Rosberg will either get a one year contract or they will replace him with a driver that could lead the team (sporting and marketing wise) for 2019 and beyond. Mercedes isn't a team that looks at short term. Or... Werhlein in next year, to have a steady second and replace Hamilton for 2019 with Max or one of the other hot rookies.

Hmm, I don't know why, but I'd like to see Valterri get a shot in the Merc.

[efuloni]

Valtteri has still a lot to show if he wants to earn a hot place next year. I expected much more from him last year and he is being disapointing in this beggining of 2016.

[ESPImperium]

My predictions for the 2017 grid:
P.S. You did the wrong PU manufacturer's for Toro Rosso and Sauber.

I really didn't, I feel that STR will ink a deal with Honda and on the Sauber thing, there was a rumour in the pre season/off season that want really picked up that BMW are looking at a factory go at F1 again as they have seen their sales fall to 4th behind Merc/Audi/VW in Germany and 3rd across Europe and the US markets when you isolate the German manufacturers figures alone. BMW are looking at two options, a buy in of Sauber again or a fresh factory build and a fresh entry into F1.

I'm leaning towards the Sauber buy over again as they already have the infrastructure to manufacture and run the chassis side. However if they have the plans for a V6T Hybrid they can manufacture it quick if they have it in F&D form, but id suggest a Honda-eske first season as they have been away for 6 years and they don't have the knowledge base from the EBD days from the V8 era that now looks to be so damn useful on the engine side of things. Look at Honda, its took them 18 months to just catch up and I'm thinking will take another 18 to become competitive. I suppose it all depends on what the engine spec will be for 2017-2020.

We know Sauber are on the brink, and it may just be cheaper for BMW to takeover a ailing Sauber and even run it as a shell team for the next 18 months till they have a good engine. A Sauber in 2017 with a Ferrari 2016 power unit may be better than a BMW Sauber.

Lets see if BMW and Sauber do something. I know that BP have £20m a year to spend over the next 3 years on a sponsorship deal, and that's who supply BMW with their fuel and Castrol lubricants in DTM. If BMW and Sauber can do something, I think F1 on the Manufacturer front will look healthy. All they need to do is get a Renault, Honda and BMW B-Team run to the same way as the Haas is with Ferrari in a pseudo-customer car format. And we have a nice 14/15 team grid. That would be tight at Monaco.

[efuloni]

I've seen many many rumors that Sauber is about to become Alfa Romeo.