Bizarre - now talk of Paddy Lowe to Williams. Wonder if that is part of this complicated deal? f1-lowe-mercedes-talks-yet-to-take-place
+1 Button looked relieved to be leaving F1. He cited the traveling circuit lifestyle several times as the reason for his dissatisfaction. I think he's done and is very content with that decision. All the best, Andrew.
If indeed Lowe has already signed with Williams, part of the negotiation would be for Merc to waive or shorten his 'gardening eave.'
I thought Merc can't impose a gardening leave because his contract officially expires at the end of this month?
Gardening leave non-compete is written in the contract. In F1 at his level it's usually for a year after the end of the contract. There's presumably a list of teams stipulated which is why so many top guys have passed through back-markers like Manor, Lotus and HRT as consultants.
I think it was meant as a joke, there no races scheduled between the end of November and March 3rd. Meaning much teeth nashing about nothing, no penalty whatsoever.
Bottas? He's pretty useless, IMO. But, a perfect fit if they don't want anyone to bother Queen Hamilton.
+1 Mercedes didn't even want to be seen to be supporting the current MERCEDES DRIVING WORLD CHAMPION in case they upset her, so they won't be looking to hire a challenger of any substance. Bottom will be perfect for the job, lacklustre, monosyllabic, boring...... all the right qualifications
Im sensing that Bottas is under rated. A very capable and cool headed driver. Excellent defensive techniques and not afraid to challenge. He appears to have an element of smoothness and makes very few mistakes. I would not at all be surprised to see him equal or beat LH in the new car. He did well in the under funded eviron of Williams.
Via SKY F1 - An intriguing thought in The Daily Mail on Mercedes’ ongoing search for a new driver: might Valtteri Bottas be hired as a stop-gap before the Silver Arrows try to sign Sebastian Vettel? ‘Sebastian Vettel remains firmly in Mercedes’ thoughts as their next driver but one,’ it reports. ‘However, as the four-time champion still has a year to run on his Ferrari deal, Mercedes are intent on bringing in Williams’s Finnish racer Bottas.’ As suggested by Sky Sports News HQ’s Craig Slater from Mercedes’ Brackley base on Monday, the Mail adds ‘The future of Mercedes’ technical director Paddy Lowe is central to any deal…Releasing him earlier than his contract allows is thought likely to oil a deal for Bottas' (Full story - external site)
Bottas is now 6/1 for the WDC 2017...4th favourite. Behind Lewis, Max and Ricci .http://sports.williamhill.com/bet/en-gb/betting/g/8801168/Drivers+Championship+2017.html
Sainz could win a WDC in the Merc and save them a chunk of $$$, providing Merc have a similar car advantage in 2017. Still, I would like to see a straight fight in same cars between SV and LH. Probably won't happen though
Yes he seemed to go off the boil a bit .Once regarded as the next big thing he was sinking into obscurity. Mind you Toto calls him 'very very fast'.This could be his last chance of a top drive if he can pull it off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V6_YdAXdrc Watch @ 0:57 & 1:04 The team instructed Hamilton to speed up twice, and both times he refused to! Paddy Lowe is the highest authority on the Mercedes pit-wall, and has never had to issue a direct instruction to a driver before because the driver's have always obeyed their engineers instructions. When Hamilton refused to speed up on the instruction of his engineer, Mercedes decided that Paddy needed to get involved directly to make him aware of how serious the management were at the time. Whether it was right or wrong to instruct Hamilton to speed up, he still refused to do what his employers told him to do. Do that in most industries and, so long as the request was not unreasonable, you'd most likely lose your job! (as was being suggested by the press at the time). This incident, combined with Mercedes backing down when Hamilton (allegedly) threatened to quit racing for the season after the Barcelona crash, shows an element of weak management at Mercedes! If the "I'll stop racing this season" threat really was made, and I'd been in charge at Mercedes, then Lewis would have simply been told: "Well I that concludes your career racing for Mercedes then!..........Good bye!" and he would have been escorted from the premises! Exactly!
Well, one thing to favor Pascal - he's racked up - by far - the highest test mileage on the new tires. Almost 50% more than Vettel (the 2nd highest of drivers with a race seat).
Yes they asked Lewis to speed up ....to me that was 'unreasonable' because if the had done that he would have disappeared into the distance and robbed himself of a final crack at securing the WDC (by backing Nicole up) with Nico trundling around in safe mode. As it happens it didn't work out anyway.. Any F1 driver worth his salt would have done the same, Niki included, then face any consequences later.
Whoever it will be, it is now clear that it will not be Fernando Alonso: https://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/127483/alonso-tells-mclaren-staff-he-staying Rgds
Joe Saward offers this - https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2016/12/13/33062/ Post-Rosberg ruminations December 13, 2016 by Joe Saward
