2016-17 Silly Season. Drivers Market

[Greenlantern101]

Finding the address is part of the application process.

 

[Incubus]

Well it looks like the wait is over. We finally know the identity of the next Mercedes driver.
Taki Inoue ‏@takiinoue Dec 8


Please Find attached files. I would like to apply for your F1 driver job for 2017 @MercedesAMGF1



Surely they can't miss out on the chance to secure him?

 

[Il_leone]

The problem with the Mercedes Young Driver program.. none of the drivers having made it to F1 have driven for Mercedes other than Mercedes powered teams and prior to that tested at Mclaren before going elsewhere to make a name for themselves for F1 except Schumacher after a gap of nearly 20 years

The retirement of Rosberg suddenly gives its young drivers a chance but this appears to be a season too early especially when they will be up against a very angry and fired up Hamilton who could easily destroy their career before they have started

I see a problem if Wehrlein is picked as Hamilton's teammate because I do think he needs to grow up a bit more before being thrown at the deep end whereas Ocon seems much more level headed and well liked by teams he's driven for so would have less of a problem

 

[Il_leone]

It seems like Alonso is ruled out of the running by Flavio

 

[Il_leone]

I did not think about this but off course should Bottas go to Mercedes , Williams do not have to put Wehrlein but Paul Di Resta seeing he is a Mercedes driver with F1 experience which would be a typical Williams stance or Lynn who had a poor GP2 season

 

[Incubus]

It seems like Alonso is ruled out of the running by Flavio

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Well there you go then. If Flavio says it it must be true.

 

[RasputinLives]

Il_leone Paul Di Resta has not driven in F1 in the hybrid era. In my book that actually makes him less experienced that both Wherlein and Ocon, who have not only been driving F1 cars all year but been driving the Mercedes F1 car all year.

 

[Andyoak]

Paul di Resta wasn't very good either

 

[Greenlantern101]

Slightly worse than Hulk and Sutil.
He won't be back unless Mercedes really do want a No. 2 driver.

Paul di Resta information & statistics | F1-Fansite.com

 

[Greenlantern101]

I'm starting to think if they are scared of taking a rookie that it will be Bottas.

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives I was not really thinking this was possible because I was sure that they would take Nasr based on Brazilian sponsors to replace Massa if that was the case

It was only when I watched the SKY end of season review that Ted Kravitz mentioned Di Resta or Lynn at Williams remember Williams signed Wurz even though he had not driven a full season of F1 in 6 years and had only done 1 race for Mclaren

Like I said its a typical Williams decision otherwise they would have signed Wehrlein now instead of Stroll. Stroll seems is apparently making similar progress that Jacques Villeneuve did to get use to F1 and I think he could potentially knock Wehrlein's ego down a notch or two if those two were paired together

If Norbert Haug was still Mercedes boss then maybe Di Resta has a better chance of getting an F1 drive back but he is down the pecking order with Toto and Niki.

Greenlantern101 the usual Mercedes driver policy is to have a rookie paired with an experienced driver like they do in DTM and previously GT Racing/ Sportscar but this is F1 where the stakes are much higher and the competition from Red Bull could be very intense and they will lose the constructors championship if they take a rookie

I think if Ocon had not signed for Force India he would have been promoted sooner than Wehrlein who's attitude is a real problem and did not blow away Haryanto like he ought to have

Bottas - Does he still have a big contract clause still like the one that stopped him joining Ferrari?

 

[Il_leone]

Andyoak Di Resta was okay but did not do enough to warrant a top drive like he demanded and had ambitions to and started moaning too much about the team harming his career in his last season

 

[Il_leone]

Incubus That should say ... for the time being given there is always time to come to an agreement with Mclaren about Alonso.. contracts can be bought out off

 

[Andyoak]

Guess we'll disagree there. He did nothing memorable except moan.

 

[Il_leone]

Andyoak A couple of 4th places , scored points on his debut but I said not enough to warrant a top drive but had he stopped moaning it could have helped his cause ... he would have done better than Maldonado did at Lotus for a start with less repair bills and bringing the car home more often

It depends how you define memorable , his last season more often than not he was starting further back on the grid than he ought to have been and had to race through the field to score points

 

[Greenlantern101]

Toto is Bottas manager. I'm sure he could swing a deal with Williams.

 

[Il_leone]

Greenlantern101 Probably but I don't think Williams want Wehrlein unless the engines are free which could be offset by having basically buying out Bottas' contract

I don't see any sense in pitting a team with two rookies for a team like Williams certainly Wehrlein who is only there because of Mercedes and really is not a long term investment for Williams

 

[RasputinLives]

Il_leone Nasr has no sponsorship anymore and I Don't think Merc need the money.

 

[Rutherford]

Slightly worse than Hulk and Sutil.
He won't be back unless Mercedes really do want a No. 2 driver.

View attachment 11102
Paul di Resta information & statistics | F1-Fansite.com

I do not want to hate or be condescending towards Paul di Resta but I can barely remember him and I did not know that he was stil racing in 2013, although I must add that I only watched half of that particular seasons.
He should to what he is good at and that seems to be DTM, the drivers there match his level of competitiveness. Therefore, he has a reasonable chance of winning races and the Championship.

I would favour Bottas for the seat at Mercedes but although I have a lot of sympathy for him, I cannot rate him. He has not seemed to have moment were he really stood out, he is just very inconspicuous.

Wehrlein has disobeyed team orders multiple times and he is a nobody on the grid, he has barely proved himself. Unlike Hamilton or Rosberg he does not have the reputation were a team would let it pass if he ignored team orders. No team with the current rules let a driver disobey orders, when they concern the engine anyway. He will be driving for Manor next season.

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives Are Bank of Brazil sponsoring Williams still as I know they dropped Sauber? That is the only reason I see why he might have a seat as well help promote the Brazilian GP if its on

Mercedes could use the money to develop new parts quicker and there is no restriction next season so $15m is handy don't you think