Things ... Musical chairs (2017-2018 Silly Season)

[RasputinLives]

I'm going Vettel for drivers, Merc for constructors, both Bottas and Kimi to stay.

I imagine teabagyokel will bookmark this post and bring it back when I'm wrong (he's good at that).

 

[Road of Bones]

Sainz to Williams, when Massa retires properly?

 

[RasputinLives]

I hope not for Sainz sake. From Red Bull B team to Merc B team would be a rubbish move.

 

[gethinceri]

Well he runs out of time at Torro Rosso this season if the wise are to be believed!
So a seat at Williams may be the best on offer.

 

[Bill Boddy]

....
So a seat at Williams may be the best on offer.

But he might have to fight off Bottas first.

 

[FB]

Button hints at a comeback and Perez to Ferrari - Gossip (Sky Sports)

I can understand that JB might feel like having another go and that there are quite a few teams who would be interested but Perez to Ferrari I can't fathom. Maybe it is just the contract situation but Sergio is hardly handing Ocon his arse on a plate, Wehrlein is peddling the Sauber like a mad thing and Sainz looks like the real deal. Ferrari should be able to have their pick of the best young talent.

 

[RasputinLives]

I think Ferrari have a bit of a Charles LeClerc headache. He is very much looking like the real deal and they won't want to lose him, however they won't run a rookie. So problem a) is who do they place him with to get some experience and problem b) is who do they run in the mean time? They already have Vettel so won't want to shell out big money for a current young talent if they Don't need one.

My money is on then running both Vettel and Kimi again next year.

 

[Rutherford]

They should try and place him at Renault for the remainder of the season, it's highly unlikely that he'll be worse than Palmer.

 

[RasputinLives]

Renault have got their own development drivers coming out of their ears so I think they'll take priority.

I would say Haas but KMag seems to have found some form.

 

[RasputinLives]

Just had a thought. If I were Renault I'd bring in Sebastian Buemi. He is in ridiculously good form this year and is signed to them in Formula E.

 

[teabagyokel]

Could Buemi be bought out of his WEC contract?

 

[Rutherford]

Just had a thought. If I were Renault I'd bring in Sebastian Buemi. He is in ridiculously good form this year and is signed to them in Formula E.

True, and Rowland isn't doing to bad either. Anyway, Renault have to do something, they are missing out on so many points. Palmer is simply nowhere in comparison to Hülkenberg.

 

[RasputinLives]

Could Buemi be bought out of his WEC contract?

I Don't think there are that many clashes. He'd certainly get them constructors points in the races he is in.

 

[RasputinLives]

So both Honda development drivers got wins in their respective formula (F2 and GP3) at the weekend. This is significant in the face that Sauber pretty much admitted they would end up taking a Honda driver now the engine contract is signed.

Matsushita is the most experienced but has a slight touch of the Maldonado's about him. Fukuzimi seems to have more potential but is only starting his second season in Europe. Maybe if he won GP3 this year he'd be in the running but that's a tough ask given the field of drivers, even if he did win the opening race.

 

[TR]

Does either of Honda's development drivers have enough points for a superlicense?

 

[RasputinLives]

Matsushita does. Fukuzimi will if he wins GP3. However if neither of them did then the FIA would let them have one under exceptional circumstances anyway. They always do.

 

[TR]

Based on Matsushita's Wikipedia page, I only see the following results (earning license points) over the last three years: Winner of Japanese F3 in 2014, and 9th in GP2 in 2015. That totals only 14 out of 40 points needed. If he finishes at his current position in F2 (5th) that would give him 34 points. Are there results missing from the Wikipedia page?

 

[RasputinLives]

I am not aware of the in's and out's but the advisory ruling states that a driver who has been consistent over a few years in Formula 2 would qualify for a licence if an application was made. Matsushita has won races in every season he has raced in and has scored multiple pole positions. Add to taking part in F1 young driver tests and I think he would be granted one no problem.

 

[Rutherford]

Matsushita has won races in every season he has raced in and has scored multiple pole positions.

No, he didn't win a race in 2013, and in 2011, 2015 and 2016 he only won one race.

 

[RasputinLives]

I meant every season of GP2/Formula 2 he raced in. As in rules states has been considered solid and consistent in GP2/Formula 2. As in carrying on from the beginning of the post.

It's all baloney anyway if Honda want to put him in an F1 seat the FIA will grant him a licence. They always do.