They needed a Wehrlein last 3 seasons, so as not to cause a rift in the garage and not have a sulking child as their multiple WDC. With the thread of Red Bull they need an Alonso so ensure they gather enough points. Mercedes only care about Mercedes winning and retaining the WCC. They'll back one driver sooner or later if needs be.
Bottas likely a better choice. As long as #2 driver is/remains #2 they are golden. Alonso would be a lot of fun for us fans but a disaster for MB. That said RB has the same problem with two #1 drivers
Except they seem to get along well and race hard with each other. Obviously i think a title shot would sour their relationship a little.
can't understand why...he had plenty of rainy races in 2008, i can remenber Monaco and Brazil for example were he was a lot faster than Hamilton...
This is only true if the WDC would be the main goal for Mercedes...But if the WCC is their main goal you are wrong. Because in the first case they need ONE driver to get as many points as possible without the other driver in his way, in the second case they need TWO drivers to get as many points as possible. And as long as RB has two competitive drivers (who most likely will take points away from each other as well) there is absolutely no reason why Mercedes would need an inferior No.2 driver to get the WDC as long as the RB is not clearly dominating them, but they might need a competitive second driver to get the WCC. So if you put someone like Wehrlein in the second car there are three possibilities: 1.) The Mercedes is still dominant -> Hamilton becomes WDC and Pascal gets enough additional points to secure the WCC 2.) The RB is on pair -> depending on who of the RB drivers gets the upper hand there might be a duell between the better RB driver and Hamilton for the WDC but no way Pascal gets enough points to secure the WCC. 3.) The RB is better than the Mercedes...most likely RB will sort out midseason who they want to win and act accordingly (as with Vettel and Webber) so there is no way that Hamilton can "steal" the WDC in an inferior car and certainly there is zero chance for a WCC. So if the Mercedes 2017 is not as superior as the previous models Mercedes would loose the WCC if they do not put a driver into the second car who is as good as Verstappen and Ricciardo and there are not as many of them around, certainly not Wehrlein or Ocon
And if you put Daniel Ricciardo in the Mercedes? (sorry, couldn't resist: a silly season again, just love it) Daniel Ricciardo to Mercedes? Why F1 star could be tempted to leave Red Bull Rgds
The top teams all have 2 top drivers. Why would the best team do anything alternate to that with what's breathing down their neck. Get real, reality is knocking.
There's a slim chance in hell that RB would let go of Ricciardo. Not going to happen. But Benson is right about what will happen if RB are title contenders. It will be the same situation as Vet/Web and Ham/Ros. Ricciardo has been laid back because he destroyed Vettel and there hasn't been pressure because the car hasn't been competitive for the championship. But we saw glimpses when situations turn bad, eg. Monaco. He's probably the most grounded guy in paddock today but he's just as competitive as the rest of them. If RB are in it for the WDC, it will get 'incendiary' at RB too with Verstappen and him. Ham vs. Alo vs. Ric vs. Vers for WDC, I'm drooling at the prospect of such a season!
Yep. 2013 + 2014 well and truly opened my eyes, obviously knew he was massively talented before but what he did that year was astonishing. Hamilton has had 3 years of no overtaking (and the little he did was with complete ease because of how much better the car is. Alonso would absolutely finish ahead.
2012 was the year that did it for me. I think thats a top 5 best ever season by any driver in history. Right up there with Schumi 97/98, possibly better
I will believe that when I see it. But they need to have cars of similar performance to be compared first. As it is, a Red Bull is way ahead of a Force India.
+1 Ocon may have been ahead in the F3 season but not the full story (as ever ). Even though F3 is a spec series, the Mercedes engine is superior to VW (Ocon had a Merc, VES a VW), Verstappen also had an engine failure from the lead which for some weird reason gives you a double penalty...various other problems as well. Ocon driving of course for Prema (incredible team, just fantastic and very well organized. Entered GP2 this year for the first time and they finished 1st and 2nd!). On top of all that, Ocon already had 2 seasons of racing under his belt before entering F3, whereas this was Verstappens very first year in car racing. That said, Ocon is a highly impressive driver and I certainly wouldn't underestimate him. I've followed Verstappens career much closer though, and the things he's done so far are not what just anyone does.
In case one of you want to give it a go.... Mercedes places classified advert for F1 race driver in Autosport
I actually just checked their website, it didn't have the vacancy . I would've put my resume in.... Owned a few Mercedes... Driven a few race cars... Owned a few computers... I'm qualified. I'll take 1/4 of Nico's salary so the team can develop.
Er indoors saw it earlier, and eerily, she claims she sent my race record and cv in having looked up the address etc, and told them I'll do it for £100k a year..... I tell you, she isn't so cheap to run that that would cover her expenses alone coming around the world!
Only an old driver on the way out would assume a #2 position (Button, Massa, maybe Raikkonen)... but not all of them (Alonso, for instance). A young driver might be a #2 for the moment, but will be shooting for #1. Verstappen is the better RB driver, but it's currently #2 due to very young age (and inexperience). Look out next year though. The other youngsters are not as talented, but on a good car, could surprise their #1s, and be fighting for it soon enough. I'd welcome the competition, so it's sad to see those primaddonas get their panties in a wad if they don't win all the time (and at all costs). Guess teams are promoting that behavior without strict behavior rules and enforcement. Guess we won't know until next year, no?
Even if Merc is locked into a dogfight for WDC, they still need a strong #2 to take points away from the challenging team (presumably RB).
