Things ... Musical chairs (2017-2018 Silly Season)

[Il_leone]

FB I guess that is to make Lance Stroll look good eventually

I am just trying to think the other options is keep Mercedes happy and promote either Wehrlein or Ocon but it is not in Williams interest if that means destroying Lance Stroll's career

I forgot to mention although it may seem obvious I'd very much doubt Williams will have the balls to drop Stroll if he carries as he is

 

[RasputinLives]

OK so I'm now pretty certain that Max Verstappen will be at Merc next year. His grumpy 'my car broke down' face says it all and Jos 'worst team mate to a world champion ever' Verstappen has already been seen in meetings with Toto.

That prob means Bottas back to Williams (as long as they are keeping Merc engines) and Sainz up to Red Bull. Which means Gasly in at Torro Rosso.

Alonso to not have a drive but be employed by the FIA to sit in the pitlane and make funny comments over the radio.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Jos 'worst team mate to a world champion ever' Verstappen

Bit of an off topic moment but that dubious honour sits with a chap called David Walker who was team mate to Emerson Fittipaldi at Lotus in 1972.

Fittipaldi won 5 races and with 3 more podiums, took the title with 61 points. David Walker scored 0. His best finish was 9th.

Even more remarkable was the fact that that Lotus won the constructors title by 10 points from Tyrell. This was in the days when only the highest placed drivers result counted for the constructors title. This marked the only occasion in F1 history where it was won by a single driver.

Anyway, carry on.

 

[Il_leone]

Not sure why Max Verstappen would fit Mercedes given Toto thinks Hamilton and Alonso won't work and also Ocon is doing a good enough job to be promoted

 

[RasputinLives]

I can't (money) think of (promotion) any (car sales) reasons (money money money) why Max would be (blaze of good PR) a good fit (massive brand name) at Mercedes either.

 

[F1Brits_90]

max is the huge new thing. he constantly faster than Riccardio by few tenths in qualifying. which shows his quality considering majority of us & autosport had him as our driver of the season. just reliablity the problem. i would say 3 other drivers that could beat a on form lewis Hamilton in qualifying that is Verstappen Alonso & Vettel. he should be dominant force in 20's car allowing

anyone else heard the big rumour this weekend that alonso might be taking massa seat & driving for Williams in 2018

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives I just don't see how Mercedes would tolerate him constantly bleating this that. Mercedes have a corporate image to maintain and Verstappen does not fit that . Hamilton is tolerated just about but with Verstappen someone needs to tell him he can't heard using such colourful tone over the radio

 

[RasputinLives]

I Don't think Merc would give a shit if he drove round constantly screaming the C word. Verstappen is licence to print cash right now.

 

[Il_leone]

Verstappen - 0 world titles , 1 win .. Vettel - 45 wins , 4 world titles or Alonso - 32 wins and 2 world titles I think either of them would create more cash based on those credentials

Verstappen this season is showing his mouth is more important than his driving

Mercedes do give a shit.. if anything Carlos Sainz would fit their image better

 

[Il_leone]

I just went through Ted Kravitz notebook and this interesting about Toro Rosso given

It appears Sainz is being endorsed by Alonso to go to Mclaren for his own development. Apparently Gelael (who??) was seen speaking to Franz Tost in deep conversation suggesting he might get the promotion instead of Ghasly

Looking at his record the guy has done nothing worthy to say he should be in Formula One so it appears he is bringing quite a bit of money with him. A strange choice

 

[RasputinLives]

Sean Gelael brings the backing of a certain fried chicken company but that chat will be about the young drivers test and not the race seat.

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives Mon dieu "Finger licking good"

 

[teabagyokel]

Why would anyone not want to sign Verstappen. He's still 19. He has the potential to build a dynasty.

Hamilton basically signed for Mercedes because he wanted to do far fewer commercial events, yet they still signed him. If Verstappen wins races and competes for championships, that's good enough for the Mercedes brand.

 

[RasputinLives]

RasputinLives Mon dieu "Finger licking good"

You'll spot him in F2 as his car has a massive picture of The Colonel on the side (not even kidding)

 

[Il_leone]

At the moment Verstappen is too much of a hot head which Red Bull can tolerate but that won't be taken at Mercedes because you can't slag off the engine being built by Mercedes in the Mercedes team like he is with Renault.

The only way Verstappen would be signed is if Hamilton is dropped and Mercedes get Vettel but we know that Vettel does not like Verstappen's rather aggressive driving.. it makes him uncomfortable

The Mercedes board would want someone with as good as credentials as Hamilton in their line up to represent them so that could only be Vettel or Alonso

 

[teabagyokel]

Why would he slag off the Mercedes engine? It's bloody brilliant, and I doubt Wolff is planning the future assuming that'll change.

 

[F1Brits_90]

@ll_leone ive watched sean gelael i watched him in gp2 now for few years he is terrible he is like rio haryanto but worse & be a travertsy to actually talented drivers who miss out on a shot. only made it to f2 because of huge amount of cash he brings because on talent. hes nowhere near.

all you have to is look at his championship record 28th 18th 19th 15th, currently 18th. combined 119 races of him F3, FR3.5 & GP2/F2 he has finished in top 10 10 times & had 1 podium. that was pure luck with early pitstop then taking advantage of others spinning in changing conditions & safety car to ended up 2nd from 19th

 

[Il_leone]

F1Brits_90 My point exactly and it appears RasputinLives was right Helmut does not seem to like Ghas(t)ly for some reason

which is odd given this year Red Bull do not appear to have young drivers in F2 that is supposedly good enough to promote to Toro Rosso so how an earth they ended up with Gelael as the best option available? Is this a sign that Red Bull are seriously wanting to quit F1?


I just watched a SKY clip apparently Alonso's got a spring in his step at the weekend suggesting he has a contract for 2018 but with whom??

 

[RasputinLives]

Il_leone F1Brits_90 like I said earlier - Gelael has bought himself a spot on the young driver tests for Torro Rosso it's not got anything to do with the F1 drive. It was reported back in March.

Toro Rosso F1 team to use F2 racer Sean Gelael for in-season testing

The Red Bull juniors always run in the Red Bulls whilst Torro Rosso always have various random drivers.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Valtteri Bottas signs new Mercedes deal for 2018 season