2016-17 Silly Season. Drivers Market

[Il_leone]

Gossip (Sky Sports)

Perez says he has a 1 year extension with Force India leaving him available for 2018 should a bigger team come calling?

- Ferrari maybe
- Mercedes - NO
- Mclaren - definitely NO
- Renault - Feel like he's missed his opportunity if Ocon and one other driver are suppose to act as the team's building blocks
- Williams - Don't appear to be improving and a shadow of the once great team

So can't see him getting a big team drive

 

[F1Brits_90]

'It appears Hulkenberg will join Renault and Force India aint going to stop him... well he does not have £10m from sponsors that the team need like his teammate despite a contract for next year

That is a lifeline for Hulkenberg and a last chance saloon to land a top drive so it appears K Mag is gone seeing he lost to Palmer again

Funny prerace i was discussing (albeit half asleep) if i was hulkenburg i would snapped renault hand off as otherwise he would end up top of a list "best drivers never to win f1 race" or "greatest unfulfilled talent" as hulkenburg shouldve been in a top team by 2013 or 2014. Its not really a risk as it could be for others as force India are good solid team but will never challenge for wins/podiums but renault/enstone could get back to 2012 levels or 05/06 levels

Vettel is showing why alonso left because after constant underperformance week after week compared to expections it going to get to him & only compounded by jealousy of red bull. If you were to say which team would j avoid with bargepole. It would be Williams as i seriously worry for them. As it no coincidence i feel. that williams have dropped down the grid as mercedes advantage decreases

 

[Il_leone]

F1Brits_90 If it were not for his sponsors Perez could have ended up the same way as his predecessor Di Resta on the scrap heap.

Its a risky game he is playing saying he has bigger ambitions to fulfil and decide to keep his team on tenterhooks and use his sponsors as bargaining power..

Seeing its only 1 season if things go sour for Perez like it has done for Bottas then he would have missed his opportunity when his stock was high like Sutil before him

Hulkenberg has to move his initial dominance over Perez has narrowed to the point that it is the other way round he's missed opportunities in the past

So he really has to take it

 

[F1Brits_90]

Interesting now hulkenburg gone to renault as could be a lot of movement. Just from what I've heard

Weirlein > Force India
Ocon > Renault
Haryanto > Manor
Palmer/Kyvat/Money > Manor
Gasly > Toro Rosso
Stroll > Williams

 

[gethinceri]

It would certainly be great to see two "promotions" from Manor into FI and Renault.

 

[RasputinLives]

I Don't think Weirlein will go to Force India but I could be wrong. It would be lovely if they took a gamble on someone like Giovanazi

 

[F1Brits_90]

I Don't think Weirlein will go to Force India but I could be wrong. It would be lovely if they took a gamble on someone like Giovanazi

Not necessarily as a pay driver, but bit like guteriettz at haas. Ted Kravitz says Weirlein could be their to satisfy the engine partners l. But your spot on about gioveranzzi he needs a drive, as to possibly win GP2 in its current guise in his rookie year would be outstanding achievement when you think vandoorne needed a 2nd season & gioveranzzi was pointless til rd3 in baku

 

[Il_leone]

Giovinazzi is due a test with Audi - World Endurance team which is interesting route to F1 unless he feels he's better off in other categories

GP2 leader Giovinazzi set for Audi test


Hulkenberg it is the right move for him because he's lost the edge he had over Perez and he keeps missing out on drives at Mclaren and Ferrari - the former because his current teammate had the money to pay for the engines at the time and the latter the internal politics

With regards to Force India - they will take one of two Manor drivers as both have tested for them in the past and it would please Mercedes they are being developed further up the grid .

It will be interesting which one is promoted.

Ocon - he's beginning to settle into F1 and if he keeps improving surely if Force India don't take him Renault will as long as they clear who owns his contract matter between Mercedes and Renault


Stroll - Williams appears to be almost certain to happen now

Gasly - Will get the Toro Rosso seat no doubt unless Kyvat does something extraordinary in the last 4 races in a car which is going backwards which makes it unlikely

Manor / Sauber

- Both teams want pay drivers so currently Nasr/ Ericsson will be wanted by both teams

- K Mag - his career is going downhill unexpectedly for him to driving for one of these teams and appears not on good terms with Renault
- Palmer - Improving at Renault but not first choice but I don't believe his Dad and help cough up money for him to be on the grid

- King - he is the leading Brit in Gp2 this season and maybe his Dad could help get him a seat at Manor ... he's not that bad

- Haryanto - he's had his shot and I don't think he will go through it again unless the Indonesian government back him with a budget like Maldonado had


Renault if they don't get Ocon may still try to sign Bottas according to rumours if this is the case then Williams have a seat open and I can see Nasr getting it in order to keep the Brazilian sponsors happy. It is unlikely WIlliams will fill another rookie so someone like Magnussen would interest them

 

[Il_leone]

Apparently Lance Stroll is not going to be announced until he turns 18 because of complications that he is under 18 with Martini who off course want to promote responsible drinking

GP2 leader Giovinazzi set for Audi test

 

[gethinceri]

I only started drinking irresponsibly once I turned 18.

 

[Incubus]

Swayed 18 more like!...

 

[Il_leone]

Well Martini don't to sell their brand by having a 17 year old promote it - that is a PR disaster

 

[Il_leone]

F1: Wehrlein in talks over 2017 Force India seat - F1i.com

Unsurprisingly the seat could become a shoot out between Ocon and Wehrlein to be promoted up the grid

US Grand Prix: Briton Jordan King to drive for Manor in Friday practice

and that may mean Jordan King could potentially be on the grid next season seeing he will get a practice session

 

[Il_leone]

Carlos Sainz Jr cannot wait forever as Red Bull's 'just in case' option

Is Sainz beginning to feel frustrated knowing that Toro Rosso are only going to go backwards given the engine is not developing any further

 

[F1Brits_90]

Carlos Sainz Jr cannot wait forever as Red Bull's 'just in case' option

Is Sainz beginning to feel frustrated knowing that Toro Rosso are only going to go backwards given the engine is not developing any further

Well i can see this because he look at Riccardio/Verstappen & think where? as unless 1 of them moves to a ferrari or mercedes. There is no room
--------------------------
Also on a renault story. I think both are gone because they are beginning to be critical of the team publically, magnussen annoyed at them keeping him hanging on & palmer says the team arent giving them the credit they deserve

 

[Il_leone]

I know it was only practice but Ocon being blown away by King even though they were on different tyres might have complicated things

It seems Renault really want a French driver and one who is a potential superstar so it does feel as long as Mercedes and Renault can work out an agreement how his future development will be

I've yet to see Palmer's quote but he's certainly been better than K Mag the last few races

 

[F1Brits_90]

Kvyat stays at Toro Rosso for 2017 F1 season

Glad but Stunned at the breaking Red Bull news/toro rosso news. No disrespect to Kvyat but i thought he was a dead man walking because horner & marko can quite brutal, could argue they from outside looked to have oustrichsed him with contract extensions for Verstappen Riccardio Sainz forgetting kyvat & with gasly on the fringes. Thought it was only at matter of time

 

[gethinceri]

Wtf? He's shit. Stupid decision.

 

[Bill Boddy]

What have they got in mind for Sainz? They seem to have at least five drivers for four cars if you count Gasly; they could use him as the reserve driver (again) but this would only delay the problem for one year.

 

[gethinceri]

Judging by their outstanding decision regarding Kvyat they'll demote Sainz to tea boy.