Could it be that Fernando is not the key to "silly season"? According to Helmut Marko (I know, I know) McLaren is very keen to have Sebastian as soon as possible, whereas Mercedes would be ready for 2016: Red Bull rivals 'target' Vettel - Marko | News | Motorsport.com Rgds
This is like Lewis leaving McLaren. Most didn't expect it, but nothing counts more than a winning car and this could go the same way. After the race it wasn't so obvious a German had won based on the crowd's reaction. I only saw support for Vettel from the fans during the weekend. It's easy to understand why Mercedes want a German that the public will embrace. And given he's made more mistakes and been higher maintenance than Nico, easy to see that Lewis would go before Nico. I doubt McLaren will be able to get any first-class drivers the way the car has been last few seasons and without the Mercedes engine going forward. Hulkenberg is the best they will get and imo he should be their target and is probably as good as the high salaried guys.
Hmm aren't Merc now in contract negotiations with lewis? Was mentioned in the media somewhere though Ofc nothing needs to be set in stone yet with much more time remaining. Dnno why they would want to downgrade to vettel. Second the idea that no one will want to drive for mclaren. Their car has far too many problems; has the best engine and still sucks. Doubt honda will bring a better package than Merc either
The german aspect is a plus side. Well he's very mediocre this season. Ricciardo is embarrassing him...but who knows ricciardo could be the next schumacher. At any rate I don't see vettel as all that good anymore personally
Vettel would do well at mclaren, that's his best shot for the future. Mclaren have hired some heavy guns and are in essence where Mercedes were a couple years ago. Once they're fully operational with Honda they will go like crazy.
LOLOL..I-L-T-O-N...Hilton...Paris...now i understand why it is a downgrade, she definitly looks better!!
Surprisingly yes. He seems so ordinary in an ordinary car. +1 I don't see Ferrari attracting top guns anymore...unless they actually start producing good cars. I also find it weird if Lewis does leave Merc...
If the new generation of cars are more difficult to drive, then one would have to conclude that Ricciardo is the better driver.
When Michael signed for Ferrari they weren't exacly the best team around, neither where merc when lewis made the switch, and neither was Ferrari when alonso vame onboard, but it is a team that from time to time gets it right and wins championships, along with that, it's the best paying team in the grid, and winning for them it's not the same as winning for others, like it or not, in terms of fame and relevance, to be world champion with Ferrari stands above anything else in f.1. That's why almost every driver want´'s to drive for them...
Well, yes, it certainly was like that in the past...I remember Didier Pironi saying one day: "You do not go to Ferrari to win races or earn money; you go to Ferrari because it is a privilege to be asked to drive for them". But is it still the same today? Ferrari drivers certainly earn some money now, and also want to win races, don't they? Rgds
Chassis will return to being top line, but it's anyone's guess how good the Honda engine will be. That'll be the biggest obstacle in attracting top level drivers.
Too much is set to sort out next season. I don't think anyone is going anywhere at this point. Next year, when all the teams have an opportunity to "bring it" we'll see where the real players land. If after having the chance to redesign a good portion of the power unit, Renault still lacks competitiveness or we see that McClaren with the new Honda still drives as back markers because of numerous other issues... that's when drivers will start making jumps. Why now when literally everthing is up in the air and/or going to change.
I think the biggest asset in the market is Hulkenberg...he's as good as anyone, younger and cheaper...you can't beat that.
I know. Ricciardo has been damn impressive, but Vettel has also had a lot of bad luck. He is still a top flight driver. Hamilton to Vettel is a lateral move, not a downgrade, IMO.
He is also the biggest and heaviest pilot of the grid, which, according to Mark Webber in a recent interview, is what makes a lot of teams think twice about offering him a contract in an era where the weight of the cars is again critical? Rgds
According to Kimi you'll have to wait on that one a while longer. And I think Bianchi will eventually end up at Ferrari rather than Hulk. He was asked in Budapest today by a bunch of journos if he's leaving this season, commenting on all the negative press around him; ''they're all full of ****'' was the reaction they got out of him.
