WHO TO REPLACE ROSBERG AT MERCEDES IN 2017?

+1

Wehrlein did get out of Q1 a few times, but that's really it. I'm not sure on the exact circumstances of all drivers but a broken Mclaren or broken STR (for poor old Kvyat) could easily make sure a slow car got ahead. As you say, he didn't really convince me on Haryanto, a driver he should be leagues ahead of. New boy Ocon? He was on Wehrleins pace almost immediately despite no time in the car.

I do hope Alonso gets the seat (purely to annoy Hamilton), if not I agree Bottas is the best driver for the job, but poor old Hulk as well...He must be going mad! I'd really like him in the Merc.

 

I also hope the seat goes to Alonso simply because I want to see he and Hamilton in a knife fight the entire season.

I would say Bottas is the better pick for Mercedes though since they are obviously keeping Hamilton.

Concur with Furoni - heartbreaking for Hulk...would have been a perfect fit.

 

https://twitter.com/ilspeaker?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Looks like Alonso! Can someone confirm??

 

+1 we need Mercedes to have that rivalry again to entertain us along with the Red Bull fight. Lets hope the Bull's are in a position to challenge Mercedes for wins not just cat fights between drivers lol

 

https://twitter.com/ilspeaker?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

I'm at a loss for words.
Hoping it isn't a joke. Anyone confirm?

 

Whoa!!!!

 

Keep it to one thread please...nothing is confirmed and 1 click on the guys link shows just a link back to Mercedes AMG facebook and their main website, NONE of it has anything Alonso related on there, so obviously trolling/hoping to gain followers/clicks for his website

 

would love to see it happen

think we're still a long ways from it happening though

 

Pending confirmation

 

That looks like a fake news twitter feed.

 

Not a single one of those links takes you anywhere to confirm this. I'd say this is an early April fools joke but I'm really hoping there is some truth to it!!

 

Speculation and click-seeking, I think.

Agreed on all points.

It would be a great rematch with Hamilton if Alonso did indeed join Mercedes. It'd be one of the great showdowns of this F1 era.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

I agree. The engine shut down thing is also a big reason why he didn't get hired by other teams IMO. There was ZERO reason to keep the engine running, I forget how many times he was asked but really, anything more than once is too much in such situations. Especially in such a cash-poor team.

 

If McLaren let's him go, it's a sure indication they think they won't have a winning car next year again.

But Button retiring and Alonso leaving, BigMac would be left with only Vandoorne under contract to pedal their cars next year.

As for Fernando timing his career moves in the most destructive way ...

 

Even though I'd love for Bottas to have the seat, I think F1 fans world wide will be robbed if we can't see Hamilton + Alonso go head to head next year. If Mercedes retains their insane advantage, at least we'll have something to see. Hamilton with some simpleton as his teammate will be mindblowingly boring (IF Mercedes retains that huge pace advantage). If Mercedes enjoys the same pace advantage with a dedicated second fiddle teammate next year then I doubt I'll be watching.

 

Or Alonso having really good lawyers. I'm convinced his performance clause for the Mclaren is higher than 6th.

 

With FA's luck he would switch to Merc and McLaren would be a force next year lol

 

I thought about that..maybe he should go..he would probably destroy the team, LOLOLOLO

 

I think in the end cupcakelein will get the place along Lewser...el pata negra will ramain at Mclaren dreaming of other places to be.....

 

Whoa! Bring on 2017!

 

This would be absolutely hilarious.

 

If Alonso believes next year car will be a dog, he will consider leaving McLaren.
A lot depends from Honda's progress, and if they will convince the Spaniard to stay.

But if Alonso has reason to believe the next car is promising, why should he jump from the frying pan into the fire? At McLaren, Alonso will have Number One status de facto next year.

Moving to Mercedes, the car may be good, but not the atmosphere.
He will have to deal with wonder boy Hamilton and Wolff/Lauda politics.
I cannot see that being very attractive.

Also, the Mercedes may not dominate the field so easily next year with the new rules.

 

What's attractive to Alonso is the chance to win a third title. I think he'd go to whatever team had a championship-capable car, no matter what the environment is like. For the last few years, the WCC was easily wrapped up by Mercedes and the WDC was guaranteed to go to a Mercedes driver from very early on each season. While I expect Red Bull to do a good job on the aerodynamics, Mercedes will retain a significant engine advantage so have a big head start even if they're not the best for aero on the grid.

McLaren-Honda may dramatically improve and start to compete for the odd podium here and there, but they are some years away from being real title contenders and Alonso is late in his F1 career. Number 1 status at a team scrapping for non-podium points is meaningless to a competitor like Alonso, who left Ferrari due to being unable to do any better than second in the championship. If a third WDC really is on the cards, he needs to get into a championship-capable car very soon. If he can arrange a Mercedes seat under any terms, I bet he takes it - it's inconceivable that he'd turn it down over mere details when he could be fighting for a championship.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Alonso and Hamilton together in a "superior" Mercedes isn't guaranty that either of them will be WDC. Remember Williams-Honda in 1986, with Piquet and Mansell? They fought tooth and nail among each other, shared the wins, and Professor Prost won the WDC on an "inferior" McLaren.

But, having said that, I admit that the prospect of Alonso giving some competition to Hamilton on what is, allegedly the best car should be thrilling to watch. I don't like either of them so they can go hammer and tongue, as far as I am concerned!! It will be the viper in bed with the scorpion!!! I expect fireworks from the word go ...

Thinking about his dwindling "audience", I bet Bernie is secretly dealing in the shadow to make that happen!!

 

Alonso and Ham on the same team would make next year interesting!