Team-BHP - Formula 1 - Silly Season, 2017

Hello All F1 Fanatics,

Since there is no dedicated thread so far on the F1 silly season for next year, I am starting one.
Please add all rumours, half-truths, denials here :D

To start with:
1. Max Verstappan - Already moved to RBR - no more updates :)
2. Daniil Kvyat - Out of STR by end of season.
3. Button - Move to Williams
4. Massa - Retirement ?
5. Nasr - Exit ?
6. Kimi - Continue with Ferrari
7. Stoff - Confirmed with McLaren
8. Alonso/Ham/Vettel/Rosberg - No change

Bring it on !

Mercedes drivers will stay put. Though there have been rumours of Rosberg moving to Ferrari, I don't think it's likely. He knows his best shot at the championship is with Mercedes. Plus, Mercedes will also be pleased with his performance this year. He's 'in form', as they say.

Massa should retire.

Fernando is getting past his prime and there are no seats at the top teams. He is in the worst place a double champion of his talent could be. One bad decision after another have ruined his career.

- Jolyon Palmer hasn't been that impressive. He could get the boot & maybe Ocon could be moved up.
- Wehrlien could move to Williams if Massa goes (though I want Sainz in place of Massa)
- Maybe Maldonado will be back at Sauber if he can get Venezuela to pay for it. Sauber surely needs the money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO (Post 3988189)

Massa should retire.

Probably so should Button if he's not renewed which is very likely. Unless Mclaren place Vandoorne at Manor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO (Post 3988189)

Fernando is getting past his prime and there are no seats at the top teams. He is in the worst place a double champion of his talent could be. One bad decision after another have ruined his career.

He could write a book on how to ruin your career!

Fernando alonso is the most talented of the lot along with Vettel. The dependency on machines is simply ruining good competition but that is what the sports is so we cant argue on that point.

I would love to see a competitive car for Alonso for he is one of the technically superior driver.

Similarly Vettel with the right car will drive the bolts out of it and from the looks of it Ferrari are on track for next year. Lets hope 2017 is not another Dud of a championship. F1 viewership seems to drop as a trend and unless they get back some charm like the MotoGp where viewership has only gone up with many changes that supports competition from many riders.

A bigger question is, is it the cars or the riders meaning technology vs simply better car wins attitude that makes the sport boring to big extent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO (Post 3988189)

Fernando is getting past his prime and there are no seats at the top teams. He is in the worst place a double champion of his talent could be. One bad decision after another have ruined his career.

He's still driving at his best. At Monaco, with the car understeering he proved how much he could get out of the car compared to Button.
All he needs is a little pace on the car and boom.. it'l be there for all to see.

I feel he still has atleast 3 years of top notch racing left in him, given the current cars that are barely a patch on the V10s of 2005 in terms of fitness requirements.

However, a poor 2017 might just be the final nail in the coffin, in terms of motivation, but certainly not ability.

Mclaren was too early a call, but the jury on how bad a move it was will be decided only if Ferrari win a title before McLaren. Podiums/wins do not count as success since thats all he got at Ferrari.

Ferrari already appear to be in disarray, with Red Bull catching up fast.
So staying there would not have looked peachy in any case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by asr245 (Post 3988209)

Probably so should Button if he's not renewed which is very likely. Unless Mclaren place Vandoorne at Manor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO (Post 3988189)

Massa should retire.

In my view, Massa, Button and Kimi, all of them should retire. They have already past their prime and virtually have zero chance of becoming a World Champion again ('again' is for Button and Kimi, as Massa has never won the championship)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO (Post 3988189)

Fernando is getting past his prime and there are no seats at the top teams. He is in the worst place a double champion of his talent could be. One bad decision after another have ruined his career.

True, he is my favorite, and he deserves much much better than what he is receiving. A probable sabbatical maybe?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO (Post 3988189)

Fernando is getting past his prime and there are no seats at the top teams. He is in the worst place a double champion of his talent could be. One bad decision after another have ruined his career.

I think Alonso still has it in him. He just needs a proper car for his talent. He was the only reason Ferrari had a shot at WDC, WCC. If only McLaren would put out a car Alonso deserves.

The silly season in itself is a soap opera.
The romours just keep getting wilder and wilder.
It's too early to predict anything.stupid:
Heard that Perez Sr. was expecting his son to be driving for Ferrari next year.
What we need now at this stage of the story is a return of Mr.Maldonado into the mix.
Come on...:D
Hopefully the six GPs coming up in the next eight weeks will give a rest to the rumour mills and keep everyone busy in the meantime.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfxavier (Post 3991474)

What we need now at this stage of the story is a return of Mr.Maldonado into the mix.
Come on...:D

Apparently, there were reports that Maldonado was in talks with all the F1 teams for a drive next year. :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by a*ed (Post 3991511)

Apparently, there were reports that Maldonado was in talks with all the F1 teams for a drive next year. :D

Yes! Wonder if he is trying with or without the PDVSA millions.
Jenson looks to be on his way out of McLaren, I dont think they will make Stoffel wait.

Luckiest one out there is Kimi for being retained at his salary for the last few years! Whats helping is Vettel too not blowing him away like Alonso was.

How about Perez to Ferrari, Massa to Force India and Button to Williams!
Only one desperate enough for Pastor is Sauber :eek:

Italy’s authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that James Allison, who is Ferrari’s technical director, is eyeing a return to his native Britain.

The 48-year-old took an extended break recently following the shock death of his wife. Allison’s three children live in Britain, while he travels between the UK and his factory-based role at Maranello.

La Gazzetta now claims that mainly due to his three grieving children, Allison could accept the advances of Renault and accept an offer to return to the Enstone team he left in 2013 when it was then known as Lotus.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatari (Post 3994348)

Gerhard Berger mentions the reason for delays with Nico's contract is not money, but time period.

Mercedes wants a 1 year contract, to keep the option of Pascal Wehrlein. while Nico wants a 3 year deal.

In case Nico's deal doesn't get finalised, would we get to see Alonso in the Merc ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by a*ed (Post 3997067)

In case Nico's deal doesn't get finalised, would we get to see Alonso in the Merc ?

Yes. If Alonso fans has their way! But I dont see how that would work out for 2017. It is within the realms of possibility for 2018. But unlikely.

Nico will ultimately take the deal.

I think Toto just likes using Alonso as a bargaining tool.