The 2017 F1 driver transfer discussion/speculation threadFormula 1

[Samus]

I'm pretty sure Red Bull locked Max down with a very long, very expensive contract. He won't be going anywhere any time soon.

 

[Vinylshark]

Sainz - With Ricciardo and Verstappen looking to be staying at RB for a few years, he's not got many options. But he has been one of the unsung heroes of the season, so might take the seat if he can.

I think Marko would rather shoot Sainz before letting him go to Mercedes.
But I'd like to see Sainz in a top car. Maybe Merc can snatch (somehow) Ricciardo from RBR and Sainz will move up and replace him.

 

[mustafur]

Wow this is massive, Wehrlein is in the ideal spot because he has no contract but will mercedes Promote him, im not sure.

Ricciardo could be in with a shot, Redbull have Sainz that would fill the shoes and if he wants it i don't think Redbull will get in the way contract or not.

Which in turn will solve the Gasly problem since he has no where to go after winning the GP2 title.

 

[NW48]

One thing is for sure... Toto has an almighty queue outside his office right about now...

 

[catamount39]

One thing is for sure... Toto has an almighty queue outside his office right about now...

Everybody and there mother is trying to get an interview in right now. xD

 

[Vinylshark]

Is it still too early for Mick Schumacher to get into F1?

 

[catamount39]

Is it still too early for Mick Schumacher to get into F1?

SOMEBODY SEND THEM HIS RESUME NOW!

 

[Jimlaad43]

Inb4 Kvyat, Stevens, Chilton or Maldonado

Is it still too early for Mick Schumacher to get into F1?

I don't think he can qualify for a Superlicense yet.

 

[catamount39]

Inb4 Kvyat, Stevens, Chilton or Maldonado

 

[NW48]

SOMEBODY SEND THEM HIS RESUME NOW!

It's not that impressive. An Aussie by the name of Joey Mawson has bettered him on multiple occasions, including the championship win.

My top 3 guys for this seat are Ricciardo, Button and Wehrlein.

 

[Vinylshark]

Maldonado

Don't worry. The internet already got it

 

[Brutaka]

Wow I thought you guys were kidding. This is insane!
Im betting in Wehrlein 100%

 

[mustafur]

It's not that impressive. An Aussie by the name of Joey Mawson has bettered him on multiple occasions, including the championship win.

My top 3 guys for this seat are Ricciardo, Button and Wehrlein.

He was also doing a Full season of Italian F4 which he came 2nd though so it's not that bad, but he is probably a few Tiers from being looked at, and even still at that that tier Lando Norris is easily the most impressive, having won 3 Full calendar championships this year(NZ Toyota series, F2.0 Eurocup and F2.0 NEC All 3 as a Rookie).

 

[BrainsBush]

 

[catamount39]

Hey now it's realistic to sign yourself to Mercedes in F1 2016 for the 2017 season.

 

[MoLiEG]

Give Checo a Mercedes and he will be a winner 👍

 

[Milouse]

Who would fill the Mercedes seat?

Wehrlein - Merc have groomed Wehrlein for a while now, and it's always been a matter of time. However, unless Mercedes were expecting this and allowed Force India to choose Ocon so they could move Wehrlein in, he's in a little bit of trouble.
Alonso - We'd all like to see it. Alonso and Hamilton again, he's outdriven the McLaren so much and seems to still be driving as well as ever. No Ron means he could break away.
Vettel - He's probably disillusioned with Ferrari now and would jump at the opportunity.
Sainz - With Ricciardo and Verstappen looking to be staying at RB for a few years, he's not got many options. But he has been one of the unsung heroes of the season, so might take the seat if he can.
Verstappen - Merc were only just beaten to Max by Red Bull, and he is the hottest property on the market, so don't be surprised if Merc steal him.
Button - Proved he can work well with Hamilton at McLaren. May have "retired", but he said he was only going to race for fun now. A front running car counts as fun right?
Bottas - Still well regarded in the paddock, and has done very well with Mercedes engines over the last 3 years. Could be an outside chance.
Perez - He's always up there, managed to score 7 podium

Why did you rule out Ocon, then?
After hearing Toto Wolff speaking about him a few months ago on Canal +, i believe he's a very likely option - and Mercedes make sure his contracts - past and current - allow him to move to Mercedes whenever they need him.
Mercedes sees Ocon as their own Verstappen.

 

[TenEightyOne]

I'd put a tenner on any of those drivers to take the seat, except Button maybe.

It kind-of works for me... Button was going to take an elective year out from what I think we mostly agree was still a mid-field car at best.

Mercedes might be looking for a 1 year drive. 6 of Button's previous 8 seasons have been with Mercedes, one of those was a championship-winning year for him. He's a popular, uncontroversial and, most importantly, very skilled driver. In return... what driver looking for one last "surprise" season could resist the team that's dominated the sport for the last 3 years (2017 unknowns notwithstanding)?

The more I think about it the better an idea it seems

What about Ricciardo? He has to be considered surely?

Ricciardio was part of the Ferrari-2017 rumour and Horner moved quickly to say that both Ricciardio and Verstappen's contracts are pretty-much nailed on.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

It will be good to see Jenson back in F1 for 2017 at team he won his WDC with. I wonder how good Pascal is, not much coverage of Manor to see how well he drives. Getting Manor car five times into Q2 this year seems like an awesome achievement. I remember last year Fernando saying even if they have an airplane engine, they would not be further ahead. This year Pascal outqualified Fernando in Austria setting a time faster than both McLaren drivers managed in qualifying at that race. Jenson started 3rd that race so Pascal might be a super quick driver or Manor actually had a decent car this year.

 

[Dan Hill]

I'd love to see Jenson in the Mercedes but can't see him coming out of his F1 'sabbatical' (hasn't he been testing a Super Gt this week?)

Could be interesting to see what happens but I reckon it's Wehlein's seat.

 

[catamount39]

I'd love to see Jenson in the Mercedes but can't see him coming out of his F1 'sabbatical' (hasn't he been testing a Super Gt this week?)

Could be interesting to see what happens but I reckon it's Wehlein's seat.

Sabbatical? Didn't he come out and say it was a full on F1 retirement?

 

[Tired Tyres]

Sabbatical? Didn't he come out and say it was a full on F1 retirement?

No. He approached his last F1 race as if it would be his last F1 race rather than it being anything else.

I'd like to see him in the Mercedes just to show how good he actually is. (Again). I'd like to see Alonso there as well but good luck getting Honda to agree to that!

What I don't want to see is the most likely thing to happen. A Mercedes young driver getting it. He would be a distinct number 2 being groomed for future stardom and not challenging Number 1 driver Hamilton. If Mercedes has the best car is will get very dull indeed watching him stroll to the championship.

 

[Dan Hill]

Sabbatical? Didn't he come out and say it was a full on F1 retirement?

He still has a 2 year contract with Mclaren but as an ambassador and reserve driver (with an option to drive in 2018 should Alonso move on at the end of his contract or step in should anything happen to Alonso or Vandoorne during 2017).

He hasn't as yet said he's officially retired from F1 but he said he was treating Abu Dhabi as if it is his last race in F1.

No. He approached his last F1 race as if it would be his last F1 race rather than it being anything else.

I'd like to see him in the Mercedes just to show how good he actually is. (Again). I'd like to see Alonso there as well but good luck getting Honda to agree to that!

What I don't want to see is the most likely thing to happen. A Mercedes young driver getting it. He would be a distinct number 2 being groomed for future stardom and not challenging Number 1 driver Hamilton. If Mercedes has the best car is will get very dull indeed watching him stroll to the championship.

I think Button and Alonso would be good choices and both have worked with Hamilton and given him a good battle (Alonso and Hamilton finished level on points in 2007 and Button is the only other driver to have finished above him). Both still very good, experienced drivers who could do a job for a year, while Mercedes keep an eye on the development of Wehlein and Ocon.

 

[Vinylshark]

I'd love to see Niki driving the car himself for 2017
Just imagine if he'd win another championship against all those youngster (compared to him)

 

[Jakedog23]

I'd love to see Jenson in the Mercedes but can't see him coming out of his F1 'sabbatical' (hasn't he been testing a Super Gt this week?)

Could be interesting to see what happens but I reckon it's Wehlein's seat.

I believe all that say Wehlein is in are correct

 

[Robin]

What are Vettel's contract terms with Ferrari? I would love to see that even though it's very unlikely.

 

[Jakedog23]

He's at Ferrari until the end of 2017 at the moment

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Pascal welcome to 2017 Mercedes Petronas AMG, oh such a vindictive person verse a 3 time wdc like Lewis and his ego. This will be interesting.

I think we can narrow it down to 3 drivers right now: Bottas, Wehrlein and Button.

No, Button is contracted to McLaren, Bottas to Williams. Now if people want to spend their life saving and a kidney to buy out of contracts to have a chance at a single seat that many drivers want...so be it. Wehrlein is realistically the only option outside of Nasr and Gutierrez. I'm sure there are others that are much less likely from the feeder series but as of right now that's it.

Since this is driver related for next years season and not related to the retiring of Nico, I've put this here instead to comment to.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Pascal welcome to 2017 Mercedes Petronas AMG, oh such a vindictive person verse a 3 time wdc like Lewis and his ego.

I have to wonder if Mercedes might be interested in Ocon. Yes, he's under contract with Force India, but Force India chose him because they rated him more highly than Wehrlein. He's still a Mercedes junior driver, so I think they would be mad not to try and get him. And Force India would still get a quality driver in Wehrlein.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I have to wonder if Mercedes might be interested in Ocon. Yes, he's under contract with Force India, but Force India chose him because they rated him more highly than Wehrlein. He's still a Mercedes junior driver, so I think they would be mad not to try and get him. And Force India would still get a quality driver in Wehrlein.

It's possible but that would be Mercedes buying a driver out of a contract, when they have one that is just as good and can be picked up. Second the reason I say Pascal is because they can run him on a single year contract, and for 2018 try to pick up a WDC driver that would be on the market, which is all of them.