The 2017 F1 driver transfer discussion/speculation threadFormula 1

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I mean in general career wise.

In a general career wise what? As a driver in general I'm guess, because that again is his own fault due to waiting out on an F1 seat that clearly was never going to materialize. For reasons already stated.

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.

I never said you did, it's just one of those things where you have a detailed reasoning on why said driver is given too much credit. So I was forewarning. I agree with you on Kobayashi though and his royal treatment. I feel because people don't get to see dynamic driving all the time they cling to those who try to drive dynamically.

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

Mercedes actually wants promotional material that doesn't have to exploit the safety features of their car in a crash scenario.

 

[mustafur]

In a general career wise what? As a driver in general I'm guess, because that again is his own fault due to waiting out on an F1 seat that clearly was never going to materialize. For reasons already stated.

I'm not talking about 2012 or 2013 I'm talking about as an Actual career move if he had a good manager he could of had sponsorship for his entire career in F1. Yeah an element of it is his fault but a driver needs help with things commercially they have no knowledge in.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I'm not talking about 2012 or 2013 I'm talking about as an Actual career move if he had a good manager he could of had sponsorship for his entire career in F1. Yeah an element of it is his fault but a driver needs help with things commercially they have no knowledge in.

Considering how many managers are in the paddock and take on multiple drivers...he could have easily done this.

 

[Dan Hill]

BBC and Sky (who I think are just relaying what the BBC have said) are saying that Mercedes have had an approach for Bottas rejected by Williams.

Some snippets from the BBC Article

- Mercedes have offered Williams a reduced price on engines (around £8.4Mil which is half their current cost).

- Mercedes have offered Williams Wehrlein as a teammate to Stroll. Wehrlein is also in talks with Sauber.

- Williams want an experienced driver to maximise their championship placing due to the prize money involved. They also have the potential complication of having 2 drivers under 25 due to their sponsorship deal with Martini.

 

[mustafur]

One of the biggest myths in F1, Experienced drivers = points.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

One of the biggest myths in F1, Experienced drivers = points.

I think they're thinking more along the lines that an experienced driver offers stability - especially in a transitional year, with the new regulations and a rookie team-mate. At the very least, Williams no doubt felt that it wasn't worth trading Bottas away for whatever Mercedes were offering in return.

 

[CarreraGT]

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?

Bring back Kamui!!

 

[dingodile_r89]

Bring back Kamui!!

Honestly, I think Kamui came hit his zenith in sportscar racing. I don't think open wheel racing is for him.

I'll be happy to be proven wrong, though.

 

[Pezzarinho17]

Williams reject Mercedes offer for Bottas!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/38282791

 

[Fryto]

 

[prisonermonkeys]

It's funny because Taki Inoue is the one posting it.

 

[TheCracker]

It's funny because Taki Inoue is the one posting it.

He's pissed because that's his Toyota in the next parking bay.

 

[NW48]

He's pissed because that's his Toyota in the next parking bay.

And because he managed to get hit by the car.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Williams reject Mercedes first offer for Bottas!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/38282791

Fixed it for you

 

[Touring Mars]

In other news, Fernando Alonso has appeared on McLaren's Facebook page saying that his 'only goal' is to win the World Championship with McLaren-Honda, accompanied by this picture that makes his comments even more really believable.

 

[CinnamonOD]

So it's just Wehrlein now?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

So it's just Wehrlein now?

That we know of.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Williams may be reluctant to lose Bottas for more than just the obvious reasons... the chances of them replacing him with another driver over 25 (and of sufficient potential calibre) are slim, the age is important to Martini who can't use under-25 drivers in certain types of promotion.

 

[Samus]

Button has surely got to still be an outside chance. I can't imagine his ambassador contract will be as hard to buy out as a full race driver. They just don't seem to want Wehrlein, if they can avoid it. Nobody in the paddock seems to really want him and his supposed attitude issues.

They could hire Button on a one year deal, a solid pair of hands, and then it gives them more time to find something long term for 2018 on.

 

[mustafur]

I think Mercedes rate him as a driver but they are probably worried of doing what Redbull did with Kyvat by promoting him too early.

A 1 season deal Driver would make some sense in this case.

 

[Ryk]

If only there was another triple world champion that was employed by Mercedes and who speaks German...
Pick up the 'phone Niki, Big fat 1970's slicks and you get to use the Mercedes Engine detonation switch.

 

[coryclifford]

I think Merc are silly for not trying to swoon Button into their seat. New car development. One year deal. Work on the car and then hand it off to someone else.

 

[DK]

I wonder...why not Carlos Sainz? It's not like he'll be moving up to Red Bull anytime soon, his only hope for a promotion would be that either Daniel or Max can't cope with the added physical effort the 2017 cars will demand.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I think Merc are silly for not trying to swoon Button into their seat. New car development. One year deal. Work on the car and then hand it off to someone else.

How do you know that they haven't tried? Button was pretty clear that he has retired. An available Mercedes seat, tempting though it may be, isn't going to automatically change his mind. Button himself said that he has been racing for most of his life - seventeen seasons in Formula One, plus the junior stuff that he did. He wants to explore life outside racing.

 

[Samus]

I wonder...why not Carlos Sainz? It's not like he'll be moving up to Red Bull anytime soon, his only hope for a promotion would be that either Daniel or Max can't cope with the added physical effort the 2017 cars will demand.

They wouldn't release him to Renault, I can't see them releasing him to Merc either.

 

[coryclifford]

I don't know. But to me, it seems kinda smart. Maybe if only financially. And I'm sure most youngsters (relative) can be talked out of recent retirement desires when enough cash is waived in their face? No?

 

[TenEightyOne]

They could hire Button on a one year deal, a solid pair of hands, and then it gives them more time to find something long term for 2018 on.

And he's the third-most-recent Mercedes world champion. I said this maaaany pages ago and nobody agrees with us!

 

[twitcher]

How do you know that they haven't tried? Button was pretty clear that he has retired. An available Mercedes seat, tempting though it may be, isn't going to automatically change his mind. Button himself said that he has been racing for most of his life - seventeen seasons in Formula One, plus the junior stuff that he did. He wants to explore life outside racing.

Pretty sure at Abu Dahbi Jenson said that he regretted the way the announcement of his "retirement" went down, as he felt he still had the competative drive to race in 2017.

 

[NW48]

And he's the third-most-recent Mercedes world champion. I said this maaaany pages ago and nobody agrees with us!

I suggested Button and got ripped for it.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Pretty sure at Abu Dahbi Jenson said that he regretted the way the announcement of his "retirement" went down, as he felt he still had the competative drive to race in 2017.

I seem to recall him saying something different - that he announced it too soon and that if he had his time over, he wouldn't have bothered with the sabbatical; instead, he would have gone straight into retirement.