The 2017 F1 driver transfer discussion/speculation threadFormula 1

[TenEightyOne]

Jenson Button is to retire from F1 after Abu Dhabi. I mean actually really retire, no "wait and see" contract. BBC.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

Jenson Button is to retire from F1 after Abu Dhabi. I mean actually really retire, no "wait and see" contract. BBC.

If you read the article it's still the same infos. They just add some salt into it but he still said that atm he dont feel like it (which he already said on sky) but you never knows. He didnt said he cancelled his 2018 contract so we're still on the same basis.

 

[mustafur]

I believe 100% he will retire, and if he wanted to come back it wouldn't be with Mclaren.

 

[Dan Hill]

I reckon Jenson is off to WEC taking Webber's vacated seat. I could be wrong but that's my feeling. I also wouldn't be surprised if WEC is where Alonso will be after 2017 if Mclaren can't give him a competitive car again.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

True, but the 2017 regulations place a greater emphasis on aero development, so the deficit might not be as bad as what Toro Rosso experienced this year. Plus, Toro Rosso didn't really take the hit until mid-season. If Wehrlein is talking to Sauber, he may see it as a stepping stone; with Ocon getting promoted to Force India, Wehrlein may feel like he is on the outer with Mercedes. In Ericsson, he'd get an established team-mate, but someone who is eminently beatable. Even if the performance of the car goes south after six months, he could become an attractive prospect for a bigger team in 2018.

I disagree, despite Merc claiming they hit a ceiling, I feel this isn't true. Next year will see open development regs on engines, meaning perhaps others can catch up but I feel Merc only said this to give its competitors a false hope. I really think there are more innovations to be made. If not, then you're probably correct, a 2016 engine wont be so bad compared to STR's 2015. As for Wehrlein the only issue is, that if Ocon were to beat Perez that would hold more value to big teams than Wehrlein, at the end of the day we don't know where either two sit with Mercedes contracts.

 

[twitcher]

I reckon Jenson is off to WEC taking Webber's vacated seat. I could be wrong but that's my feeling. I also wouldn't be surprised if WEC is where Alonso will be after 2017 if Mclaren can't give him a competitive car again.

...Jenson already laid out his plans for 2017. He's doing the Suzuka 1000 in an NSX, and doing GRC in a Civic. He specifically said that he is not doing a full series in anything for 2017, just select events. I read this a few weeks ago already, can't remember where exactly though.

He also said that for the foreseeable future, he will not drive for a major competitor of Honda's. NSX and 911 are direct rivals, and Honda and VAG go head to head in pretty much every catagory.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

As for Wehrlein the only issue is, that if Ocon were to beat Perez that would hold more value to big teams than Wehrlein, at the end of the day we don't know where either two sit with Mercedes contracts.

Wehrlein may decide to go his own way since Ocon seems to have gotten the nod over him. He may try and catch the eye of the non-Mercedes teams.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Wehrlein may decide to go his own way since Ocon seems to have gotten the nod over him. He may try and catch the eye of the non-Mercedes teams.

I would think they both would since Ocon had the eye of many upper mid teams before Mercedes grabbed him. So I feel both could go for any team who says drive for us. I feel Pascal is more set in because he's been a mercedes driver, but only time will tell.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Sauber say that Felipe Nasr has lost the backing of his primary sponsors.

 

[Dan Hill]

...Jenson already laid out his plans for 2017. He's doing the Suzuka 1000 in an NSX, and doing GRC in a Civic. He specifically said that he is not doing a full series in anything for 2017, just select events. I read this a few weeks ago already, can't remember where exactly though.

He also said that for the foreseeable future, he will not drive for a major competitor of Honda's. NSX and 911 are direct rivals, and Honda and VAG go head to head in pretty much every catagory.

Not seen anything about these? Just that he was considering entering a Triathlon event as an amateur and he would like to have a go at doing Le Mans and Rallycross.

 

[Northstar]

Not seen anything about these? Just that he was considering entering a Triathlon event as an amateur and he would like to have a go at doing Le Mans and Rallycross.

Nothing has been signed yet, but here is where he laid those plans out.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Ted Kravitz had an interesting story following Abu Dhabi - apparently Lewis Hamilton quit Mercedes during the autopsy of the clash in Barcelona, prompting Mercedes to draft Wehrlein in to the post-race test and renew Rosberg's contract. They talked him down (obviously), and Sky admit that they'll probably never know the full story.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Ted Kravitz had an interesting story following Abu Dhabi - apparently Lewis Hamilton quit Mercedes during the autopsy of the clash in Barcelona, prompting Mercedes to draft Wehrlein in to the post-race test and renew Rosberg's contract. They talked him down (obviously), and Sky admit that they'll probably never know the full story.

Link?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Link?

It was in the Notebook. Kravitz dismissed it, mostly because he couldn't substantiate it, so I doubt that they will post it on the site. I'm only posting it now because I only just got to see the post-race analysis; it was originally broadcast at 2am.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Ted Kravitz had an interesting story following Abu Dhabi - apparently Lewis Hamilton quit Mercedes during the autopsy of the clash in Barcelona, prompting Mercedes to draft Wehrlein in to the post-race test and renew Rosberg's contract. They talked him down (obviously), and Sky admit that they'll probably never know the full story.

Kravitz will never know a full story, that's for sure. The other story doing the rounds today is that Hamilton is going back to McLaren for a looooot of money, his retirement from the Abu Dhabi drive wasn't due to the cited "unwellness" but more to do with the ire of Mercedes Works when they discoverd this.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Kravitz will never know a full story, that's for sure. The other story doing the rounds today is that Hamilton is going back to McLaren for a looooot of money, his retirement from the Abu Dhabi drive wasn't due to the cited "unwellness" but more to do with the ire of Mercedes Works when they discoverd this.

Swap with 'nando maybe?

 

[Tired Tyres]

Swap with 'nando maybe?

What? and then next year's merc' will be terrible with his luck.

Seriously, the moment the team gave the driver an instruction he would not comply with, the relationship was over. Question is what the contract says.

 

[Samus]

If Hamilton leaves I'd wager to Ferrari. He's noted a few times that everyone wants to drive for them at some point, I can see him going there for 2/3 years to end his career.

 

[Jimlaad43]

I would laugh if he does decide to rage quit Mercedes, finds all the other seats full and can only find a seat at Sauber

 

[Samus]

Silliest of early silly seasons. 2018 line-up:

Merc: ROS & VET
Ferrari: HAM & RIC
Red Bull: VES & SAI

 

[Pezzarinho17]

I would laugh if he does decide to rage quit Mercedes, finds all the other seats full and can only find a seat at Sauber

I'm sure he would be able to find himself a role as a #Tessed driver?.... I'll get my coat.

 

[Tired Tyres]

I would laugh if he does decide to rage quit Mercedes, finds all the other seats full and can only find a seat at Sauber

I'm reasonably sure he could get a drive with Porsche in the WEC.

 

[Jimlaad43]

I'm reasonably sure he could get a drive with Porsche in the WEC.

They've just finished their line-up though.

Ham in the BTCC?
Or relegated to Formula E

 

[Tired Tyres]

They've just finished their line-up though.

Ham in the BTCC?
Or relegated to Formula E

They have got a new 911 though. It's NA though so no chance against the turbos.

 

[Vinylshark]

If Hamilton leaves I'd wager to Ferrari. He's noted a few times that everyone wants to drive for them at some point, I can see him going there for 2/3 years to end his career.

I can't really see Ferrari dropping Kimi or Seb for Lewis. Seb might have had a rough season this year, but it will get better, plus he still finished the season ahead of Kimi. I think both did a good job with the car that Ferrari gave them. Seb and Kimi get along greatly, which is good for the team right now since that's one thing less to worry about and I don't think that either one of them has less driving skill than Lewis.

 

[Samus]

I can't really see Ferrari dropping Kimi or Seb for Lewis. Seb might have had a rough season this year, but it will get better, plus he still finished the season ahead of Kimi. I think both did a good job with the car that Ferrari gave them. Seb and Kimi get along greatly, which is good for the team right now since that's one thing less to worry about and I don't think that either one of them has less driving skill than Lewis.

Well by the start of the 2018 season Kimi will be 38, he's got a family, I can't personally see him staying in F1 another year but who knows. As for Vettel there does seem to be question marks over him, they stalled on his new contract beyond 2017. That's why my silly season predictions puts him in the vacant Merc seat.

 

[IforceV8]

I could see VET taking a seat at Mercedes in 2018 with HAM leading a Ferrari team with somebody like GRO or PER.

 

[EngieDiesel]

Swap with 'nando maybe?

Nah, apparently they consider Alonso a "great asset" and want to keep him beyond 2017 if he's willing to stick around.

Ever since Ron Dennis got pushed out of McLaren there's been a recurring rumor about "keeping the door open" for Hamilton should he want to come back though, so who knows how that would shake out.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

his retirement from the Abu Dhabi drive wasn't due to the cited "unwellness" but more to do with the ire of Mercedes Works when they discoverd this.

Eh? Care to elaborate some more?

 

[TenEightyOne]

Eh? Care to elaborate some more?

The story's pretty-much bollocks, I'm sure, but it's a rumoured reason for Hamilton pulling out of the Abu Dhabi test after only an hour in the car. The official (conspiracy!) reason is that Hamilton felt "unwell".

Imo the story comes from the new McLaren boss saying that "of course" he'd like Hamilton back - who wouldn't? Added to the hyped fallout from the race... the beans add up to the usual off-season nonsense.

EDIT: When I ask "who wouldn't?" I realise, of course, that you wouldn't