WHO TO REPLACE ROSBERG AT MERCEDES IN 2017?

exactly.

 

Let's assume that rather than just DNFs, we refer to mechanical issues resulting in loss of points, and assume that this applied more to Rosberg in 2014/2015 and more to Hamilton in 2016 (I have no problem with that assumption, or truth). It's interesting that Mercedes' public justification for the mechanics swap was that there was beginning to be an "us vs. them" mentality between the two sides of the garage, rather than the desired "all-for-one", so the team management decided to switch them between the drivers to avoid those us vs. them associations.

However, perhaps unwittingly, it's backfired and they've now created one team of mechanics that is definitely the A team (having won two double-titles with Hamilton and now one double-title with Rosberg), and the other team is just the B team, with no championships over 3 years. So as far as the mechanics go, independent of the drivers, there's a definite split amongst the mechanics!

 

Good point.

Another example of Mercedes trying to control too much...first this example you gave. Then team orders so that Hamilton has no chance of winning the WDC in the last race, despite being only 5 pts back. Even calling up Max's dad to complain about his driving.

To quote the joker, "They're schemers". ; P

 

To be honest, as Hamilton was 5 points behind Rosberg before the last race, he had very little chance to win the WDC this year. It would have been a miracle if he did.

Rosberg was in the commanding position, and played his cards very well.

 

Meanwhile back on topic - is there any news re Rosberk replacement?

 

There won't be any this year according to Toto Wolff.

 

I think the negotiations with Williams are more in depth due to the contract issue of bottas, so unlikely. As William said, its suggested there will be an announcement next month.

 

My wife just pranked me by picking up her phone and going:

*GASP!* "Maldonado's gone to Mercedes!"​

I admit she got me with that one. I was imagining a lot of first lap incidents and 11/10ths crashes next year.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Can we not have trolling about poor Pastor please, he was a stunningly quick if accident-prone driver, with a win under his belt. Venezuela has been on the phone and its not fair, you know better!

 

I agree that the manegement of the Mercedes pit wall was very weak over the last 4 years. Many issues between the drivers as well appeared because the management was not able to bring it down early, they let both drivers too many liberties.
And for the mechanics: maybe it is coincidence that the one team got all the WDC but maybe it is simply because they are the better team...I don´t know

 

It's not so much the issue of Bottas going to Mercedes that is the problem, but Williams being left without an experience driver.

As usual, the sponsors may not be happy about the swap, and Williams could lose Martini-Rossi's sponsorship because of it, I guess.

If it works out, Mercedes is surely going to fork out a lot of money to get the deal.

What I find incredible is that a top team like Mercedes didn't have a replacement/spare driver waiting for such eventuality (like injury or worse), and is caught completely unprepared by Rosberg retirement. McLaren was able to replace Alonso after his crash, for example.

 

The problem is that they have one - werewolf - but given his lack of experience, and evident lack of current ability, they don't want to risk him. Moving him could be the work of genius, he may suddenly come into his own, but if he performs as he has so far, they could look like idiots, and he destroy his career before it really started

 

But at the same time, it's a less risk option for Mercedes to take Wehrlein in the team at short notice, to see if he fits, or until a suitable replacement comes on the market. In one year's time, most will be out of contract; that's surely worth waiting for, no?

Losing Bottas at the eleventh hour, Williams could see it drivers strength completely destroyed at a time when it needs it less. Already the team has fallen behind Force India in the ranking with Bottas and Massa, and I cannot see how they would recover from that with Stroll and ... Wehrlein on loan!!
Plus, Martini is surely going to walk out, if the 2 drivers are barely of legal drinking age!! That's not really a good advert to promote liquor, is it?

For Mercedes to obtain Bottas will really require a "tour de force", but we have seen strange things in F1 in the past.

 

Looks like Williams is the bottle neck. Merc want Bottas, but it's pointless them taking the cash for Bottas and then losing it all as first sponsors run for the exit and then a poor 2017 wcc result would drain even more cash. Not a good outcome. How about a late Merc pitch for Kimi? That would be fun to see...

 

Oh my...we would then have all the 'show' we have been asking for lol

 

I suppose that Mercedes has already examined most of the attractive options we mentioned here, and found nobody available.

Let's see again.
Raikkonen and Vettel have demonstrated strong loyalty to the Scuderia, Alonso intimated through Briatore that he wasn't available, and Red Bull is unlikely to release its 2 drivers.
That's the "crème de la crème" out of reach.

Among the best of the rest, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Perez and Sainz among other contenders.
Bottas is committed to Williams, Hulkenber has just signed his contract and unlikely to break that. Perez will be Number one at Force India and would be probably not interested to play second fiddle at Mercedes. That means Sainz is potentially the only one who could be "bought" since a move to the RB team is not on the cards.

But there is also the option of a stop gap driver on a one year contract, to wait for the drivers market to change towards the end of 2017.

 

I know what you are saying William, and I hope Williams hold firm and don't capitulate, but as the world knows, money talks, and bull**** walks, so I'm guessing they will do something in the end. Toto, remember, is bottas manager, so that's a spectre in the background that might make Williams buckle a little. It's a bit like having Don Corleone asking you to have Johnny Fontaine get the lead role in your movie - you might just wake up with Rob Smedley's head in your bed lol

 

I think if this happens, you may more or less say Bye Bye Williams for the foreseeable future.

They need to stop the decline, and if Bottas and Massa didn't manage to do that in 2016, I cannot see how Stroll and ... Wehrlein? can achieve it in 2017, no matter how much money the team receives in the end.

 

Problem is that Rosberg left it so late, so all contracts are already done. Getting a driver proves quite difficult then...

As for Alonso's crash, it was only a temporary issue so no need to poach a driver from another team. For such short term happenings it's also not unusual for a team to borrow their test driver to another team in case no TD is available.

Notable exception is of course after Massa's head injury, Badoer really didn't work out at all so they hired Fisichella, but Vijay Mallya probably realized it was Fisico's last year in F1 anyways so allowed him to realize his dream and race for Ferrari.

 

Oh my god, neuros mrs was right..... pastor has arrived at Mercedes for a seat fitting
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Reports indicate Massa has reached a deal with Williams, so Bottas to Mercedes for next season. Then what?

 

That could solve everybody's problems, no?

Well, on the surface ...






So Massa will have to cry again at the end of next year ?

 

This year was just a prequel. Wait until next year.

 

Id love to see more driver movement now with Nico taking off. Kimi to Mercedes would be a great thing!!

 

What next is how Mercedes and Toto in particular treat Valteri. This will be amazing to watch and see unfold.