2016-17 Silly Season. Drivers Market

[RasputinLives]

Is that a slap in the face for Wehrlein?

Yes.

Wherlein is seen as having a bit of an attitude in the pitlane and the teams think his troublesome nature may outweigh what speed they'd get out of him. Both he and Ocon have tested for Force India and they went for Ocon.

I believe that Ocon has more potential anyway however potential does not always translate in reality.

 

[FB]

So another season at Manor for Pascal is probably likely. It'll be a interesting if Ocon gets demoted back to Manor in the way Kvyat was at Toro Rosso last season. It would also confirm the influence Mercedes have at the teams they supply engines to.

 

[RasputinLives]

That would be interesting. Especially as Ocon and Wherlein are reported to have a genuine dislike for each other.

 

[TR]

So another season at Manor for Pascal is probably likely. It'll be a interesting if Ocon gets demoted back to Manor in the way Kvyat was at Toro Rosso last season. It would also confirm the influence Mercedes have at the teams they supply engines to.

That seems unlikely. The situation at red bull is different than at the other teams. As I understand it, the drivers are under contract at Red bull, and can be depolyed at either of their teams at Red Bull's discretion. Ocon has signed a contract with Force India. "Demoting" him back to Manor, would involve breaking up that contract. Weirder things have happened, but I imagine it might be costly.

 

[Il_leone]

FB
RasputinLives I did not watch it but in one of the practice sessions for US GP Wehrlein was given an instruction or request how to manage the engine and he did not appear to listen

'What an idiot, man!'

Say what? The best of race radio in Italy

Seeing how Mercedes apparently stepped in to stop Renault naming Ocon as the second driver and wanting him in a Mercedes powered team then that does show you how much they rate him

Esteban Ocon: Manor driver joins Force India in 2017 to replace Nico Hulkenberg

Force India don't like troublesome and sulking Mercedes drivers from DTM series - Paul Di Resta and now Wehrlein apparently !!

Ocon and Wehrlein have pretty much been part of the Mercedes young drivers programme for the last 3 years or and no doubt both sees themselves as the future No 1 driver but the fact that Ocon will get a better chance to show his abilities than the other with a more competitive car will seriously annoy Wehrlein with the possibility of a Mercedes drive for 2018

The fact that WIlliams did not promote Wehrlein either to make Mercedes happy and went for a Stroll shows you who they think had more potential

 

[F1Brits_90]

If i was Pascal Weirlein i would be seriously worried now where this leaves his f1 career because for last few years he has been future mercedes driver in the making replacing either rosberg or lewis when either 1 moves on or gets fired for finally snapping decking the other. Because weirlein cant say he lost out because the guy brought more money to his incoming team. As they wouldve got "free??" Engines regardless of which one they took & they chose the guy with 7gps over a guy with 19 & scored Manors 1st pts for 2 years

 

[Il_leone]

F1Brits_90 Not to be funny but outside of Mercedes which one of the bosses has said he is their future who actually rates Wehrlein?

He won the DTM because all the senior drivers basically moved over for him to do so and certainly was less competitive way to win it then when Di Resta won it having to race his teammates hard.

Force India know both drivers and they went for Ocon because he is probably more likeable and approachable for the team .. Wehrlein looks a bit silly for mentioning he was in contention for the Force India seat and then having to say that Mercedes would sort his future for 2017

Well it looks like he needs to mature a bit more before he gets a shot at driving for the big team is the message

 

[Il_leone]

F1 2017: Wehrlein wants to know why Force India overlooked him

Oh dear Pascal -. It is not like you have a right to the seat

Kevin Magnussen: Renault F1 2017 offer not good enough

Revenge time for K Mag

 

[RasputinLives]

I think the writing was on the wall for Wherlein already. Merc actively went out and wooed Ocon to get him in the young drivers programme in April 2015 (only a year and a half ago) after Enstone stupidly let him go. By this point he'd already beat Max Verstappen in F3, testing the Enstone car and done the test he won in the F3 championship with Ferrari who raved about him. He then went and won the GP3 title in the strongest field that series has ever seen. Merc then paid for him to be brought into F1 meaning they we're running two youth drivers (they've never done this before).

It was quite clear he was very much fancied. They got him an F1 drive within 14 months of signing him. How long did Wherlein have to wait?

Ocon has superstar potential and I think Merc acted accordingly.

 

[FB]

Quick update:

Ferrari - Vettel/Raikkonen
Mercedes - Hamilton/Rosberg
Renault - Hulkenberg/Palmer
Red Bull - Ricciardo/Verstappen
Toro Rosso - Sainz/Kvyat
Williams - Bottas/Stroll
Haas - Grosjean/Magnussen
Force India - Perez/Ocon
McLaren - Alonso/Vandoorne
Sauber - TBC/TBC
Manor - TBC/TBC

So four left. Interesting that there are fewer "pay" drivers on the grid than in previous years, unless you count those who bring an engine supplier with them. I suspect both Sauber and Manor will have at least one driver with a suitcase full of currency.

 

[RasputinLives]

Less pay drivers more youth drivers. it's almost 'three car four car teams' in disguise.

 

[F1Brits_90]

But RasputinLives done research & in the rookie year of DTM, Weirlein came 8th with 48pts & ocon in 1/2 season got 2pts even his replacement this season once ocom went to manor got 5pts

 

[RasputinLives]

Yeah but DTM is not singles seater racing which is why it's always been crazy for Merc to run their F1 junior drivers in it. Unless your suggesting Marco Whitman is better than both of them? Ocon has better results at the sport that it's relevant too.

Mclaren didn't run Hamilton in BTTC because it would have been pointless. Merc run their juniors in it because it allows then to race a Mercedes car, it does little else.

 

[teabagyokel]

How does Ocon's 2016 compare to Ricciardo's 2011. Never been beaten by Karthikeyan, has he?

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives Mercedes signed Ocon on their young driver programme around the time Wehrlein had testing with Mercedes at 19 I think as development driver and testing experiences with Williams and Force Inda as well. Wehrlein was probably thinking he was the future golden boy and Ocon was a threat to his position

F1Brits_90 RasputinLives Mercedes young drivers programme had always been based on fielding teams or pairings with one experienced driver and one junior driver outside F1.

M Schumacher felt his experience with Mercedes was great for his development because not only did he experience how a big team functions, he had experience to lend from his senior teammates but he also learnt how to deal with the press and the pressures

Like you said in many ways the young driver programme helps young drivers to fit and model themselves to act as a corporate representative for Mercedes in future longer term

When it comes to getting drivers into F1 apart I can only think of Heidfeld and Zonta who were doing F3000 and then progressed into F1 with testing experience from Mclaren but the others are coming through DTM - Di Resta and Wehrlein.


However it also seems like doing DTM for some young drivers is a good way to make a career if they can;t get into F1

i think drivers like Jamie Green and Gary Paffett - the latter certainly had the talent to be in F1 but doing DTM did not help increase his chances of getting into F1 other than testing with Mclaren when maybe doing F3000 might have helped





T

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives F1Brits_90 Mercedes may change how they develop their young driver programme because there is a space on Formula E open for Mercedes to run a team next year so my guess is will that their young drivers would be competing in the series

 

[RasputinLives]

It'll be season 5 of Formula E when they enter.

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives You'd think Merc would not be entering F1 reject drivers in the series but rather young drivers who want to get into F1. That would be interesting to see Merc vs Audi vs Renault in the series

 

[Il_leone]

Force India says signing Ocon 'very close call'

Wolff: Ocon deal shows talent beats money

Ocon could a real revelation next season

 

[Il_leone]

Wehrlein, Nasr, Gutierrez and Haryanto on Manor's 2017 shortlist

It ought to read 3 for 1 seat given Wehrlein will probably drive for the team again because of Mercedes deal