The 2017 F1 driver transfer discussion/speculation threadFormula 1

[prisonermonkeys]

I wouldn't get too carried away with Mercedes' comments - as much as they have expressed an interest in securing Alonso, they have also acknowledged that they're not going to exhaust themselves trying to get him (or Vettel). If he's there for the taking, they'll snap him up in a heartbeat, but not if it means moving heaven and earth.

That said, if they do get Alonso, it opens up a seat at McLaren and I have no idea who might get that seat.

"Nobody will use the number 2," they said. "Because nobody will want to be a number 2 driver."

Also, I'm disappointed that there is no #66. So far, we've had #11 (Pérez), #22 (Button), #33 (Verstappen), #44 (Hamilton), #55 (Sainz), #77 (Bottas), #88 (Haryanto) and #99 (Sutil), but no #66 (although #99 becomes available again this year).

 

[Peter.]

I feel if anything the fans, and maybe Alonso want him in the seat more than anyone else.

At the very least, and on such short notice, they just need a reliable driver to at the very least drive the car home behind Hamilton. They aren't short on driver talent with him in the team anyway, so spending money buying someone out of a contract (basically all their options except Wehrlein) probably isnt necessary to get the most out of next year's car. There's no reason Pascal can't do a good enough job to give them a strong challenge in the constructors championship, And thats that's all they really need.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The major deterrent against taking Alonso is that a year or two from now, Mercedes will find themselves in the same position - in need of a second driver.

 

[TenEightyOne]

The major deterrent against taking Alonso is that a year or two from now, Mercedes will find themselves in the same position - in need of a second driver.

That's not necessarily a deterrent - why not position themselves with a good 1-year driver if they can't fill the seat with a top driver? They need to rush the 2017 decision to an extent, but not the 2018.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

why not position themselves with a good 1-year driver if they can't fill the seat with a top driver?

Because a) a driver like Alonso won't settle for a one-year deal, and b) they can use 2017 to get a promising driver up to speed for a serious tilt at the 2018 drivers' title while filling a support role in the 2017 constructors' championship. And it would likely placate Hamilton to give him de facto number one status in 2017 because Mercedes will need two drivers who can get along while mounting their own drivers' campaigns in the future (though they shouldn't pick drivers based on pandering to Hamilton).

 

[Mike_grpA]

After seeing Red Bull aggressively promoting young drivers to the top team, I reckon Mercedes will do the same and promote one of their most promising young drivers. It makes sense, because they've already got one of the best on the grid, so if the youngster isn't up to Hamilton's level over the course of the season, they can quite easily have him play the #2 role. It's unlikely Mercedes will be dominant next year, so having a clear #1 and #2 will help them in the driver's championship. Hiring an older big name will cost them a hell of a lot more, for what may turn out to be a driver that doesn't play the team game. Alonso especially has never been a team player.

 

[Fryto]

"Nobody will use the number 2," they said. "Because nobody will want to be a number 2 driver."

I think he chose 2 as that was his number when he started his first season in single seaters (F4).
He used to race with number 5 whenever possible, but that one is taken of course.

 

[Pupik]

"Nobody will use the number 2," they said. "Because nobody will want to be a number 2 driver."

Some fellow named Alain Prost had a few good seasons with that number (1985, 1989, 1993).

 

[TenEightyOne]

All the driver numbers for 2017, copied from Sky. Another season with no #1.

2 Stoffel Vandoorne
3 Daniel Ricciardo
5 Sebastian Vettel
7 Kimi Raikkonen
8 Romain Grosjean
9 Marcus Ericsson
11 Sergio Perez
14 Fernando Alonso
18 Lance Stroll
20 Kevin Magnussen
26 Daniil Kvyat
27 Nico Hulkenberg
30 Jolyon Palmer
31 Esteban Ocon
33 Max Verstappen
44 Lewis Hamilton
55 Carlos Sainz
77 Valtteri Bottas

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Some fellow named Alain Prost had a few good seasons with that number (1985, 1989, 1993).

I'm aware of that. But Prost didn't have a choice in the matter. I remember when career numbers were first introduced, people said that no-one would want to use #2 because it implied that they were the team's second driver.

 

[TheElbows]

It was my understanding that the WDC is allowed to wear his registered number OR the #1. So with Rosberg gone it only makes sense no #1 on any of the cars. Or am I missing something?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

It was my understanding that the WDC is allowed to wear his registered number OR the #1. So with Rosberg gone it only makes sense no #1 on any of the cars.

Yes, and yes.

 

[TenEightyOne]

It was my understanding that the WDC is allowed to wear his registered number OR the #1. So with Rosberg gone it only makes sense no #1 on any of the cars.

With drivers now having "permanent" numbers many of them are developing a brand around that - that's why Hamilton hasn't raced with #1 this year. We're more likely to see that in future seasons too, I think/

 

[TRGTspecialist]

The search is now over for Mercedes, the choice is clear:



Did you hear that Mercedes? Now that the man who coincidentally happens to be one of my favourite former F1 drivers has been brought to your attention, there's no need to look further. It's VERY CLEAR.

Mercedes? Hello?

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Because a) a driver like Alonso won't settle for a one-year deal, and b) they can use 2017 to get a promising driver up to speed for a serious tilt at the 2018 drivers' title while filling a support role in the 2017 constructors' championship. And it would likely placate Hamilton to give him de facto number one status in 2017 because Mercedes will need two drivers who can get along while mounting their own drivers' campaigns in the future (though they shouldn't pick drivers based on pandering to Hamilton).

No where is there a plan to do that. Both Mercedes and Hamilton have said that.

I think he chose 2 as that was his number when he started his first season in single seaters (F4).
He used to race with number 5 whenever possible, but that one is taken of course.

It was a joke PM was stating really, and it becomes more obvious in his follow up. But if you look at other forums and boards and pundit commentary there were a good number of people saying what PM was making fun of in hindsight now.

 

[EngieDiesel]

The search is now over for Mercedes, the choice is clear:



Did you hear that Mercedes? Now that the man who coincidentally happens to be one of my favourite former F1 drivers has been brought to your attention, there's no need to look further. It's VERY CLEAR.

Mercedes? Hello?

He's not the only Japanese former F1 driver to apply...



"Hit by safety car TWICE
This is an absolutely record of F1 history"

 

[RazorSharkz]

As much as the Taki Inoue joke is funny, that does not take away from the fact that Kobayashi is probably the most underutilized driver of the past 20 years.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

As much as the Taki Inoue joke is funny, that does not take away from the fact that Kobayashi is probably the most underutilized driver of the past 20 years.

I'm sure PM will soon have a talk with you about this...I look forward

 

[Peter.]

Couldn't agree more. Also with F1 also constantly flirting with the Asian market, the fact that they discarded a driver that was actually pretty good, and by good I mean easily one of the best in the sports history, is a bit insane

It's a shame to see Perez flirting with top teams every year, presumably one of the first in line for a vacancy, while Kobayashi, his equal and arguably even faster as teammates, fell through the trap door.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Couldn't agree more. Also with F1 also constantly flirting with the Asian market, the fact that they discarded a driver that was actually pretty good, and by good I mean easily one of the best in the sports history, is a bit insane

It's a shame to see Perez flirting with top teams every year, presumably one of the first in line for a vacancy, while Kobayashi, his equal and arguably even faster as teammates, fell through the trap door.

It's his fault due to the nature of F1 and almost what nearly spelled the end of Hulk, drivers have to have some sponsorship these days, it sucks but has been so since the 90s and has increased from then.

 

[mustafur]

Given how fast Kobyashi has been relative to his team mates and in Toyota this season I would be happy to see this, and probably the biggest f1 career comeback of all time.

But this would never happen, drivers rarely get second chances even if their chance was blown by sponsorship and not performance.

It's his fault due to the nature of F1 and almost what nearly spelled the end of Hulk, drivers have to have some sponsorship these days, it sucks but has been so since the 90s and has increased from then.

Basically his career was on a tight rope the moment Toyota left, Sauber gave him a lifeline but didn't have the funds to make it worthwhile.

I'm sure many Redbull drivers would be in the same boat if Redbull left before they got a drive in a top car.

His Career was the exact opposite of Sato funnily enough, he had the speed but no backing.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Basically his career was on a tight rope the moment Toyota left, Sauber gave him a lifeline but didn't have the funds to make it worthwhile.

I'm sure many Redbull drivers would be in the same boat if Redbull left before they got a drive in a top car.

True, but once again the nature of F1 shows why people even good like him don't get a free meal if they don't have some funds.

 

[mustafur]

True, but once again the nature of F1 shows why people even good like him don't get a free meal if they don't have some funds.

I Feel if he had good management he could of got it pretty easily, he is massively popular in Japan and could of picked up something to go racing.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I Feel if he had good management he could of got it pretty easily, he is massively popular in Japan and could of picked up something to go racing.

Not with Sauber and it was pretty obvious there weren't too many seats open for 2013 that could have found him racing.

 

[mustafur]

Not with Sauber and it was pretty obvious there weren't too many seats open for 2013 that could have found him racing.

I mean in general career wise.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I'm sure PM will soon have a talk with you about this...I look forward

I don't think that Kobayashi was undeserving. I just felt that he was overrated. I remember that he got the "Pass of the Year" award at F1 Fanatic in 2009 for passing Jenson Button - even though he had just pitted whereas Button had stayed out. The move was a foregone conclusion, but to hear the fans tell it, it was akin to Senna at Donnington in 1993.

 

[Dennisch]

Flavio rules out that Alonso goes to Mercedes.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Flavio rules out that Alonso goes to Mercedes.

Does this mean Alonso has already signed the deal?

 

[Simmpa]

consider how dominant Mercedes F1 car is just put in Pastor Maldonado, no need to pay some experienced driver.

 

[aarror]

Kobayashi was a bit of an enigma this year, he was crazy fast in Toyota's LMP1 car but nowhere in Super Formula, he didn't score any points until the final race of the season.