Formula One in 2017

[Forward Press]

Wehrlein seems like a natural fit, but with only one season under his belt, it may be too early for him to be in a winning car (he's not a freak talent like Verstappen). Merc may think he needs more time to develop.

Bottas is managed by Toto and has a few good years under him. Just signed a new contract though and Williams will probably have a hugely inexperienced lineup next year if he leaves. Won't be easy to pry him away.

Perez, Sainz and Alonso are the only others I can see being a chance right now.

Would personally like Alonso. Having Hamilton, Alonso, ADR, Verstappen, Kimi and Seb in the top 3 cars? Yes please, they are probably the six best drivers on the grid at the moment.

inb4mclarenwintitlenextyear

 

[Forward Press]

That's the thing though, with the massive regulation changes I'm not totally convinced a driver for Ferrari or Red Bull would be willing to make the move. They'd have to have lost confidence in the team, basically, because there is a very real possibility that Mercedes isn't a dominant team next year.

Somebody like a Bottas, though...maybe.

I meant that the six drivers with the top three teams were seemingly locked for 2017 at the very least after Abu Dhabi on the weekend, Rosberg calling it a day causes a huge scramble from the non-top three drivers as we are seeing now.

Wehrlein would be quite a gamble but he seems favourite at the moment.

 

[Forward Press]

A lot of "what ifs" in this situation, but man, I feel for Hulkenberg. Has been close to a top drive for what seems like his entire career and just hasn't had the right opportunity...this could have been it.

I mean, I'm glad he's at Renault, but...

Should just ask anyway. Tell Mercedes they'd save money by not having to throw away the Nico helmets.

 

[Warsaw]

What a baller move.

 

[Gak Attack]

Ballsy by Nico, I like it. Hamilton will never get his payback . If the new rules do bring Red Bull closer to the Mercs they would be better served with another good driver like Alonso. Will probably depend how much influence Lewis has, he will no doubt be pushing for a clear #2.

 

[hey shorty]

Amazing decision but one I can understand.

Everyone bar ADR and Max would be falling over themselves to get in that car but they're all under contract.

Bottas would be the front runner, Vettel/Alonso or ADR would be the dream. If ADR were to leave it opens up a seat for Gasly who deserves a shot.

Maybe Jenson will un-retire lol.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Jenson to do a John Farnham.

 

[hey shorty]

Jenson to do a John Farnham.

Retire 3 races in, come back 2 races later and so on.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

To be honest. There are other drivers that deserve it over Hulkenberg, one of them being his former teammate.

I'm not so much talking about "deserving" it, just that he has always been in the mix for those seats but one had never realistically become available (knowing that Red Bull were always going with one of their drivers, the top-line drivers on the move, etc). Now one is available that he would have been a fair shot at, just weeks after he took a punt on a works team that had an awful first year back. The stars have never really aligned for him, after being a "sure thing" to transition to a top drive pretty much since he entered the sport.

 

[Wolfs]

Sainz would be a good pick. He's not going anywhere.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Retire 3 races in, come back 2 races later and so on.

Something like that lol.But in all seriousness if it wasn't F1 where contracts mean nothing then thats the path i'd go.Jenson for 2017 while Seb sees out his last year of his contract.

 

[Gak Attack]

Sainz would be a good pick. He's not going anywhere.

Was thinking the same. Quality driver but isn't going anywhere behind ADR and Max.

 

[Macca81]

smart move by Nico. Had 3 years where Mercedes were so dominant that he had a 50/50 chance at winning the championship. He got kissed on the dick in the 3rd year to win the drivers championship, and with new regulations about to shake things up again he might as well get out on top. This year would have not been much fun for Nico. It showed in the drivers rooms post-race always having a superior rival in Hamilton barely acknowledging him. A lot of stress involved for him in 2016 and if RBR are the top dogs next season there isnt much incentive other than $$ to go around again.

Cant see Sainz getting the vacant Merc seat. Yes he will be waiting a long time for either Max or Dan to leave but i cant see Mercedes taking a risk on him. Have no idea what the contract statuses are of each driver but would love Alonso to be back at the top again.

Cant wait for Melbourne already!

 

[hey shorty]

The question is, will they ask Lewis ?? He might not want Dan, Seb or especially Max in the same car as he would be shown up IMO.

Alonso didn't want Lewis as a teammate again but Mercedes is a different environment to McHamilton was.

My bet is still Bottas.

 

[Slax]

Ballsy by Nico, I like it. Hamilton will never get his payback . If the new rules do bring Red Bull closer to the Mercs they would be better served with another good driver like Alonso. Will probably depend how much influence Lewis has, he will no doubt be pushing for a clear #2.

After Lewis ignored team orders in Dubai it is a guarantee that Nicki Lauda won't give a toss what Lewis thinks.

It's now as much a decision about who they can get, they don't have first choice as most teams have locked away drivers for next season so they'd have to buy out contracts.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

smart move by Nico. Had 3 years where Mercedes were so dominant that he had a 50/50 chance at winning the championship. He got kissed on the dick in the 3rd year to win the drivers championship, and with new regulations about to shake things up again he might as well get out on top. This year would have not been much fun for Nico. It showed in the drivers rooms post-race always having a superior rival in Hamilton barely acknowledging him. A lot of stress involved for him in 2016 and if RBR are the top dogs next season there isnt much incentive other than $$ to go around again.

How did Rosberg get kissed in the dick this year?

I reckon he'd have had a fair bit of fun this year.

 

[DamoESP]

hahahahaha VES having a good laugh about it.

http://www.espn.com.au/f1/story/_/id/18188116/max-verstappen-jokes-mercedes-vacant-nico-rosberg-seat

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Nico just wanted to get to write his book before Hamilton.

 

[Wolfs]

smart move by Nico. Had 3 years where Mercedes were so dominant that he had a 50/50 chance at winning the championship. He got kissed on the dick in the 3rd year to win the drivers championship, and with new regulations about to shake things up again he might as well get out on top. This year would have not been much fun for Nico. It showed in the drivers rooms post-race always having a superior rival in Hamilton barely acknowledging him. A lot of stress involved for him in 2016 and if RBR are the top dogs next season there isnt much incentive other than $$ to go around again.

Cant see Sainz getting the vacant Merc seat. Yes he will be waiting a long time for either Max or Dan to leave but i cant see Mercedes taking a risk on him. Have no idea what the contract statuses are of each driver but would love Alonso to be back at the top again.

Cant wait for Melbourne already!

I disagree on Sainz. I think Merc would take a risk on him. He is quick, sensible and a smart driver.

 

[Sven]

I've had a night to digest the Rosberg retirement news and can only see three scenarios:

1. Alonso joins Mercedes and Button returns from his sabbatical to drive for McLaren one last time
2. Bottas moves to Mercedes and Wehlein moves to Williams
3. Wehrlein gets the drive

If Bottas moved I'm sure Mercedes could also throw in a sweet engine deal for Williams to get the deal done

 

[hey shorty]

Lock in option 2.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

 

[Wolfs]

BUt for reals I don't see Alonso going to Mercedes. Not because of Lewis, more that he wants to build something with McLaren. It would take him a lot of frustration and time to move. He decided on McLaren for 2007 back in 2005 and Ferrari back in 2008.

 

[Sue Ridgepipe]

Personally if I was running Mercedes I'd move heaven and earth to get Sainz in that seat. The bloke is young, quick, very hungry, fearless and won't take shit from LewLew. Hearing him talk, I think he craves success and recognition more than Nico did this year, which is crucial when you consider that next years' cars will take a large pair of pendulous plumbs to drive quickly.

Really hope Bottas doesn't get it, don't think he has the bottle to slug it out with LewLew, ADR, Verstackin', or Cry Baby Seb for a championship. Too meek. Plumbs not pendulous enough.

On the whole available German thing... wonder what Timo Glock is up to these days? LewLew should have no objections, after all the bastard handed him his first championship on a silver platter.

Purely for the fireworks factor, I would love to see Toto sign Fernando, LewLew's best mate. All out aggression on the track, and all out passive aggression off the track.

 

[hey shorty]

Timo is in DTM, set to drive in the 12hr for BMW next year