ROSBERG RETIRES!

Yes they rejected the initial offer ...MB could go as far as providing almost free power units to Williams,they could also cough up the $$ for McLaren to release Jenson to either Williams or even MB if the Bottas deal can't be done.

All the teams are saying their drivers are unavailable ..but everything has a price.

 

But what about the drivers?

Don't they have a say in this?

I mean Bottas is de facto Number One at Williams next year, why would he accept a lesser role at Mercedes? Albeit with a better car?

Also, Button has indicated he won't be driving in 2017; can he be "forced" to accept a drive at Mercedes?

Here again, just focusing on money doesn't guaranty an happy time. IMO

 

He would be on equal terms at MB,in a far superior car ,what's not to like.

Jenson would jump at the Merc if offered it,Williams would not be too bad either.

Most of these guys are actually not driven by money ...they just want to win,and to do that nowadays you need a top 3 car to have any chance at all most of the time,

 

If jenson went to Mercedes he'd have a damn good chance of beating Elton again..... doubt Mercedes would want to allow that, their little chopper would lose his rag big time



BTW, note to terra, chopper is slang for cock, wang, todger, etc. It's not a racial phrase of any sort, certainly here in the U.K., before you start claiming I'm another of your imaginary fchat racists

 

I don't think Mercedes would give a stuff over which of their drivers won the WDC and brought them another WCC. I think you're getting too bogged down with your conspiracy theories again.

The prospect of saving a few million by not having to pay Hamilton his huge win bonus would sweeten any petulance.

The only thing against Jenson is that he'll be only a potential short-term fix.

 

Although they could probably hire Jenson for a lot more than his retainer at McLaren + paying to break his contact if necessary, and still come in at comfortably under what Rosberg managed to 'agree' in his very short lived contract (in fact did it ever even start LOL).

Niki has stated that he does not want a 'beginner ' to partner Lewis,he wants a driver with a real track record etc,so in my book that rules out Werewolf and even Ocon.

MB options are looking very limited right now, Jenson would keep Lewis on his toes next year while they sort it out for 2018 when a bunch more drivers will be available.

I think Bottas would be the preferred choice right now if it can be sorted out with Claire n Frank,if not just take Jenson on board! This all depends of course on if Jenson actually would want to race again in 2017.

Once he has finished up meeting his old mates in the West Country drinking scrumpy cider n things etc what else is there to do over the winter? Maybe sit on his Yacht in Monaco or whatever but even that becomes boring after a while,tell me about it!

I believe the Jenson camp are one of the few who have made no comment so far,silence is golden.

 

A point which often get's overlooked in this debate is that Merc are not interested in the WDC. They care primarily about the WCC. Why? Because that's the championship that determines how much money they get. The Rosberg deal made sense because it de-risked an enormous amount of Merc prize money vs having second rate driver who might cost them the WCC and a lot of millions…

So - the driver they will pick will be the one who can generate the most points. This is not a beginner. It has to be someone proven. The short list is incredibly short… Merc are somewhat stuffed.

Well done Rosberk.

 

Williams have turned down an initial approach from Mercedes for Bottas that involved a price reduction of the power units of @ $10Million.

If Mercedes really want Bottas, they'll make a much better offer to Williams, such as free power units for a season - Something that could help Williams' budget greatly.


I can't believe people on here are questioning why Bottas would even consider going to Mercedes instead of remaining at Williams!

The last three World Championships have been won by Mercedes, whilst Williams have been nowhere near to winning a race let alone a Championship, and whilst Mercedes spent last season planning it's Championship victory parties from Melbourne onwards, Williams spent their whole season trying (and failing!), to beat a team whose race budget was smaller than Ferrari's coffee budget!

Added to that, there's the chance for Bottas to test himself against a three time World Champion in the same equipment and show the World how good he really is.

At Williams, he'll be partnered with a rookie who needs to learn the F1 ropes, so he will have to do the majority of the car development work, and he'd be in a no win situation! If he beats Lance stroll, everybody will just point out that it's the kid's first season in F1 so it's not that big a deal, and if he loses against Lance stroll, people will question his ability, and stroll will get all of the interest that was previously coming his way! Damned if he does - Damned if he doesn't!

The opportunity to drive for Mercedes is one that Bottas cannot afford to ignore and has to be seriously tempted by.

My monies on Williams knowing that they've already lost their driver and are now simply playing hard-ball to get a better compensation package!

 

Really?

As others have pointed out, F1 contracts aren't worth the paper they're written on when a driver has made his mind up to switch teams - All that is left is for the appropriate amount of compensation to be sorted out between the driver's new team and old team.

The only limitation on the Mercedes shortlist is how much they're prepared to pay to get a driver!

In a twist on an the old: "Speed is just a question of money! saying:

"Getting a driver is just a question of money! - Which driver do you want?"

 

Alonso and Vettel have officially declined (Alonso made it clear to Mclaren team today he IS staying on at Mclaren, either he's very dumb or Mclaren/Honda truly have something next year)

Mercedes want Bottas it seems. First bid has been declined, which means that they actually made an offer. Their pockets are deep enough. Trouble is though, Williams need a measuring stick for Stroll. Wehrlein is AN measuring stick but they need a clear lead driver, someone strong enough that can actually do that. Wehrlein definitely isn't that. Who could they possibly get that isn't going to cost them a ****load of money?

Sainz will be too expensive to buy out. I think he has a mature head on his shoulders (definitely more mature than Wehrlein).

Grosjean seems obvious, but I seriously doubt his leadership abilities. All he does is whinge endlessly and his praise of the car/team varies on a race-by-race basis from ''this is the greatest car I've ever driven'' to ''this is the worst POS I've has the misfortune to drive''.

Magnussen is a disappointment, I don't think he's quick enough. Nice guy though.

Perez, Hulkenberg etc all under contract. If Merc can't get them, Williams doesn't have a hope in hell.

 

Perez would be a great choice..but of course he would be a match for Elton e this is not what TOTo wants....Bottas is different, because is managed by him...i still think he is going to get the place..and if he does he might also make things hard for Lewser..

 

Sorry to keep banging on but ...Jenson is the most likely to replace Bottas (or even Nicole) ..if he wants to race in 2017.

 

Maybe Jenson has had enough of the F1 circus?

 

Button looked happy enough to retire, and started to drive like a retiree as well. I don't think his heart is in it anymore.

Why would Rosberg possibly drive at Williams? He has zero reasons to. He'll not be in a car even slightly in contention for a podium, let alone wins.

 

This

 

All true. Button is gone. He has the millions in the bank. He doesn't have the motivation for F1, he has made his choice.

Rosberk has created enough of a dud thump on his WDC already with his stupid retirement ploy. Why would he want to do a Damon Hill and go to a second rate team to be ridiculed for failing to put up a proper defence of his title.

 

Would you care to explain that comment ?

 

I have many times. Our points of view differ on this one and that's fine with me. To summarise my view - he played his team. Claimed to be the team player. Signed up to a new 2 year contract in August. Won the wdc. Promptly changed his team player disguise to the ultimate selfish player and promptly retired - all to late for Merc to put any kind of plans in place for replacement driver. Poor form and very dishonest.

 

Rosberg is a good poker player; he can bluff his opponent in a sense of false security.

So, covered his back by signing a contract, just in case ....

And , once he had obtained what he wanted, he announced his departure, under his own terms.

Kudos for him, I say; Mercedes didn't see it coming, and Toto get caught with his pants down.
Maybe a pay-back for having obviously favoured Hamilton during the last 3 years.

Selfishness is an empty word in F1; you have to be selfish to get any where in this game.
Teams have no shame in sacking drivers or wrecking careers.

 

^^^ I get what you're saying and I empathise with your point of view. It's just different to my own.

My final word on this subject is this. Next time anyone criticises a driver for not being a team player, remember Rosberg. The ultimate poker player, or back stabber depending on your pint of view.

 

Totally agree. I don't have a problem with this but it shows he is not the Saint many on here want him to be. If Lewis had done this the usual suspects on here would be gunning for his head.

 

Saint LOL. Stop. He left he achieved his goal and would have stayed had the result been an LH title. Not the first to leave and wont be the last. LH can't spell team but Nico can in multiple languages.

I didnt care when FA left or any other driver for that matter. Its called BUSINESS. Learn about it free on the web. As documented on this site other drivers left with less notice and with more negative situations as well.

The only differing opinions here are those who are happy with the title and those who are not. The team is saving the money they wont pay to the next driver. Life goes on for all involved. Mercedes of all teams can absorb the change, and easily at that.

 

Amen

 

Yah, shame isn't it, if anything, he played the guys that have played him for three years, and it worked like a charm. He got the title, they and their little prize moron got egg on their faces..... forza Nico as far as I'm concerned

 

+1