2016-17 Silly Season. Drivers Market

[Il_leone]

he might have had testing but as we can see from Max Verstappen it does not teach you how to race wheel to wheel with respect

 

[Il_leone]

Button won't race next season but is 3rd driver essentially and taking an ambassador role with an option to race for 2018

I guess this is to cover off if Alonso retires and there is a ready made replacement

Jenson Button: 'He's one of the greats' - Ron Dennis, In Short - BBC Radio 5 live

 

[FB]

If Perez were to "decide to go elsewhere" I'd be more than happy to see Force India make sit a season out if they have a contract. It's about time teams took a stand against drivers not honouring their contracts. That said, someone should make sure the teams do the same.

 

[Dartman]

Button won't race next season but is 3rd driver essentially and taking an ambassador role with an option to race for 2018

I guess this is to cover off if Alonso retires and there is a ready made replacement

Jenson Button: 'He's one of the greats' - Ron Dennis, In Short - BBC Radio 5 live

Reading into Ron's speak, Jenson won't drive a full season, not he won't drive, I suspect after next years testing a clearer driver line up may emerge

 

[Il_leone]

FB I think the backers bring a lot of money to Force India something like $10m at least by having Perez so that is a big gap to fill because there are getting less from their shady owners

Dartman Thinking it long term I can see some sense in that Alonso might say one more world title and I will quit then no one can argue against that

Also Jenson with his knowledge of Honda and Japanese culture would help to sooth bridges that Arai made difficult to build last season

A carrot has been dangled to Vandoorne if you do well you can stay with Mclaren otherwise they will look to farm him out to a junior team or possibly Williams or Renault

 

[Il_leone]

Someone obviously tried to stir up at Monza because Marko came out and denied Gasly was going to replace Kyvat at the next race despite being GP2 series leader

I am not sure how wild those would be but would Renault consider Gasly being French and possibly GP2 champion and in return Toro Rosso may get cheaper engines

That is if Ocon is not one of their drivers - he might get pushed to Force India if Perez decides to go to Williams say

 

[F1Brits_90]

I found Ron dennis & alonso quotes in a interview
Ron
I want 1st option if he comes back in 2018

Alonso
JB is the only 1 under contract for 2018 at Mclaren

 

[cider_and_toast]

I just don't believe he'll be back. Keep in mind that the the 2018 cars will be very different from the current model. With a full year of development to the 2017 regs that lack of knowledge will seriously hamper his efforts of getting on terms with Alonso.

Of course Fernando will be talking up Jenson because if he gets pushed all the way by Vandoorne in 17 he's hardly likely to want nore of the same the following year.

If Vandoorne has a season comparable to Hamilton's competitiveness against Alonso in 07, then could it be the end of Alonso, at McLaren at least? Either way, Jenson wouldn't want to get back into a car and get smoked by Vandoorne as well.

I guess there is a precedent, set by Prost in 1992 but with all due respect to F1's loveliest boy, he does not have the credibility to walk back into a front running team.

 

[gethinceri]

He's just giving the chance to let someone else have a go for a little while, yet more proof that he's a lovely boy.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

I have a sneaky feeling he might be back.

 

[Dartman]

Not many F1 drivers get £5m for retiring and then an apparent new job no other driver has been ever offered, even Schumacher wasn't given that contract when he stopped driving for Ferrari. Ron's praise for Jenson was probably way over the top for most on here, I wonders what the real reason is, Fernando to walk away after the February testing if it's not to his liking with another head ache

 

[vintly]

RD - Hi Jenson, we want Stoffel in next year, do you mind?
JB - Erm..
RD - £5m?
JB - Deal.

 

[RasputinLives]

The 5 Million is to stop him going off and signing for someone else either in F1 or in another motorsport. He is a big name and a well known face, especially in Japan, and its likely Honda and associated sponsors don't want to lose him for marketing purposes. Keeping JB on whilst getting to run Stoffel is probably the compromise reached in the Mclaren boardroom.

Although, you never know, Fernando could suddenly end up at Williams or something.

 

[FB]

I have a sneaky suspicion Alonso might just "do a Lauda" and walk away mid season. Did you here the radio transmission of him laughing at his engineer when he suggested they might catch Grosjean? I know he was being ironic but many a true word spoken in jest.

 

[Bill Boddy]

Considering McLaren were at their worst circuit they came away from Monza with their heads held high. They have one of the best chassis on the grid and their engine is not there yet but it is on the way.

 

[RasputinLives]

Lynn and Mitch Evans both ran for Jaguar at the Formula E testing just gone along with Adam Carroll. It's between those three for the drive.

Il_leone it seems Lynn might be back in the Running for the Williams seat as Jaguar have gone with Mitch Evans and Adam Carroll

Jaguar picks Adam Carroll and Mitch Evans for final Formula E test

In other news (I Don't know where to put this) Channel 5 got the exclusive UK tv rights to Formula E today.

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives The rumours seems to be Lance Stroll will get the seat which is an insult and its no doubt to do with his dad being involved

I just read Giovinazzi will get a Ferrari simulator run which probably will annoy Marciello even further

With regards to Mclaren it will depend on how the testing goes in the new cars whether Alonso completes the season or not?

Its interesting that Ron was happy to gloat that Jenson said he did not want to drive for anyone else but Mclaren Honda . I agree that given Jenson's experience with Honda and Japanese culture it will help sooth the dfficulties they might have dealing with temperamental Alonso

 

[RasputinLives]

Lance Stroll is actually a very good driver and has been the class of the field in Euro F3. He's also in the Ferrari driver programme. I would have thought it would have been at least another year before he got an F1 drive but we'll see. Let's not do him down because of his dad just yet.

I would love to see Giovinazzi in F1next year as I think he has been an absolute sensation as a rookie in GP2 this year given that he had no experience on the Pirreli tyres. Even Vandorne struggled on his first year on them.

 

[cider_and_toast]

The channel 5 move for Formula E could be a good thing. I think the series tended to get lost in the depths of ITV4.

 

[Kewee]

I can't see Alonso walking before the end of his contract, yes he does speak his mind at times but he grew out of his temperamentally years ago. He's put in the hard work with McLaren/Honda and will want to reap the benefits as things improve. He's also working well with Ron Dennis so I'll stick with my prediction that he'll re-sign for 2018. It will take more than just testing for the team to know how competitive they will be in 2017.