2016-17 Silly Season. Drivers Market

[Il_leone]

It was his height that probably stopped Mclaren going for him

He was dropped by Williams because Maldonado had £30m to bring in sponsors .. I still think if he had the 2012 Williams he would have got more podiums

He won Le Mans but his pace was superior than Webber in the other Porsche

He interests Mercedes because first and foremost he is German and the big bosses want Mercedes to be represented by a German driver that is obvious

yes he has not got a podium in over 100 races but it is not without bad luck ..he's shown to be a very fast driver but they don;t turn into the results they deserve

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Perez is not as fast as Hulkenberg but appears to have very good race craft to make the tyres last. However his chances of going to Mercedes are pardon the pun slim given his backers have investment in Ferrari which is where his career is aiming

FB Free engines for Williams which cost $15m a season which is equivalent to at least 1 place in the constructors so can Williams afford to sacrifice their constructors hopes given MErcedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, and possibly Mclaren, Renault and Force India could be ahead of them in having a weaker and inexperienced driver line up?

 

[FB]

It very much depends who they sign as a replacement for Bottas. I could see JEV or Buemi doing a job for them. I still suspect they will try and lure JB back.

 

[F1Brits_90]

If they are blocked from Bottas then I would go after The Hulk.

Everyone knows my feelings on Hulkenberg. He for me is very underrated I would have him in a shot phoned him up, the day rosberg retired & Then get French Gasly on loan in Renault

 

[Il_leone]

F1Brits_90 Which is what Toto Wolff did or tried to do and he got a taste of his own medicine by Renault who wanted Ocon

FB latest odds for the 2nd Mercedes seat put Button out to 20-1 which is the same as Alonso and Vettel. SkyBet not being more daring and give him an outsider's shot

 

[FB]

I was thinking more that Williams will try and temp Button back Il_leone

 

[Il_leone]

FB Maybe if Williams get Paddy Lowe first who can then convince Jenson it might work

BUT JB does not want to be driving for 4th or 5th so what will Williams do to convince him they have a race winning car?

 

[TR]

I was thinking more that Williams will try and temp Button back Il_leone

I am not sure about that. I think they already tried that this summer and Button declined.

 

[F1Brits_90]

ive heard rumours of Sainz, i would find it difficult to go because i have my doubts about the aerodynamics of Williams

 

[Il_leone]

Sainz to Williams is very interesting given you'd think Williams would be a better car than Toro Rosso but he is up against Stroll and would it affect his chances of being promoted to Red Bull or say go to Ferrari/

 

[cider_and_toast]

I was going to post this in the Merc thread but it applies just as well to Williams.

To have a driver change this late into the season and with the change of aero regs may significantly influence the choice of driver.

Both teams will have finished the design work on their 2017 cars months ago and will have already started assembling the cars.

To make significant alterations to accommodate a new driver will be difficult at best unless he more or less matches the size and build of his predecessor.

 

[Il_leone]

cider_and_toast Something that nobody told Ron Dennis back in 2014 when he dithered over who his driver were and kept us guessing every week

Force India are usually culprits in announcing their drivers late but they've already announced them for a change

Williams will be hurt the most because supposedly Bottas was the driver helping them with the design input for 2017 when Massa was retiring so for him to go they will feel it the most

 

[FB]

Couldn't find a list height/weight list for 2016 but here's one for 2015 - F1: Height and weight of the current Formula 1 drivers | Auto123.com

Sainz is a little taller (4cm) but a little lighter than Bottas (4kg) (I'm assuming this has something to do with the size of Bottas' head ).

There was an article in Grand Prix International back in the 80's about f1 drivers having to be like jockeys in the future and it appears to be true.

 

[gethinceri]

The reason Williams won't take Jenson is that he's worth his weight in gold and so they can't afford him.

 

[Incubus]

That was probably even more of a concern back then than it is now to be fair. Minimum weight regulations only applied to the car - as opposed to driver + car like it is today - and so only the car was weighed during checks. So the lighter drivers enjoyed a definite performance advantage - not just a weight distribution advantage.

 

[Il_leone]

Height and weight was a problem when the powertrains came along as the weight of the car plus driver had to be met and it was a disadvantage to drivers that were 6ft who were naturally heavier - Hulkenberg, and Di Resta

It was presumed back then lighter drivers in the 80's like Prost had at least 0.3 seonds per lap advantage because they were diminutive and up to 20kg lighter

Which makes you think how much faster Mansell could have done because I think one stage they suggested he avoid bears and chocolate bars because he was supposedly the heaviest driver on the grid

 

[Incubus]

Mansell wasn't actually among the heavier drivers, nor was Prost all that light despite his diminutive stature. The only time I ever remember the weight of drvers being published was on the eve of the 1987 Brazilian GP and the results weren't really what one would expect when looking at the drivers in question.

One of the heaviest drivers wwas Derek Warwick, which is kinda surprising when you consider he was one of the short ones. But then again he was a strong and stocky type. Berger was the heaviest, which despite his height also came as a bit of a surprise because he looked quite skinny at the time.

We have to remember muscle weighs more than fat, and not all drivers undertook the kind of strict physical training that has become the norm today.

Also, with the technology they had in the eightiest constructors found it much more difficult to get their cars down to minimum weight regulations, with the least competitive cars being a walloping 60 kilograms heavier than the top-runners. The osellas were a scale-busting 615 kilograms, some 60 kilos heavier than the Williamses. That tended to minimise the effect of weight differences between the drivers.

 

[RasputinLives]

I think the heaviest driver ever was Bertrand Gachot. I wouldn't say that to him though. Especially if you're a taxi driver.

Rumours that Red Bull would be willing to let Sainz go and that he is Mercs go to if they Don't get Bottas.

 

[Incubus]

I think the heaviest driver has got to be Alan Jones.

 

[Il_leone]

Sainz to Mercedes that is a surprise but then again when your two main drivers would probably be the top of the most wanted list then they can't hold him back ....sidenote a lifeline for Pierre Gasly suddenly

 

[Incubus]

Sainz at Merc would make sense actually. Well it would if Merc are after proven talent, a description Carlos probably does fulfil. After all he did match Verstappen for pace at Torro Rosso lest we forget...