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Mercedes and its Young Driver Problem

Discussion in 'F1' started by TifosiUSA, Sep 7, 2018.

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  1. TifosiUSA

    TifosiUSA F1 Veteran

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    #1 TifosiUSA, Sep 7, 2018
    https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.toto-wolff-mercedes-will-re-evaluate-junior-programme-if-drivers-don't-get-2019-f1-seat.3GoS5QOUIwOi0oEW2i2U8s.html

    Hmmm someone should tell Toto that he had the opportunity to promote one of these guys when Rosberg retired but decided to go with Bottichello since all Mercedes cares about is getting someone subservient to Lewis Hamilton after Rosberg proved to be a handful for him and eventually too much for him.

    Hope these guys can get out from under Mercedes. Toto should take notes from Red Bull on how to run a young driver program.
     
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  2. Jeronimo GTO

    Jeronimo GTO Formula 3
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    #2 Jeronimo GTO, Sep 7, 2018
    "Bottichello" LOL :D:D:D

    I refer to him as "Bottleneckas"...
     
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  3. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

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    #3 Bas, Sep 7, 2018
    Couldn't have been put more perfect.
     
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  4. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

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    #4 Mitch Alsup, Sep 7, 2018
    Re-evaluate could mean buying another team so that they had their own seats to deposit their own promising drivers. Sort of like RB and TR.
     
  5. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

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    #5 BMW.SauberF1Team, Sep 7, 2018
    They need to wait just a tad bit longer and buy Williams in a fire sale. Given their winning history with McLaren, buying McLaren would be a nice brand to own (plus their supercar road car division). But that is way more expensive than Williams and it would be a lot more involved.
     
  6. fer312t

    fer312t Formula Junior

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    #6 fer312t, Sep 7, 2018
    Mercedes AMG F1 exist win races and drivers' and constructors' titles...and Lewis and Merc are accomplishing the this extremely well at the moment.

    They are not going to prematurely promote young drivers in a desperate bid to find potential foils for Lewis, just to spice things up for Hamilton haters.

    The only realistic choice from the young driver program when Rosberg retired was Wehrlein, and he basically had his hands a bit too full beating Ericsson on a consistent basis.

    Incidentally, why would Ferrari fans would be using the 'Bottichello' nickname? It's basically a slur on the Ferrari/Schumacher dynasty more than anything. :D
     
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  7. TifosiUSA

    TifosiUSA F1 Veteran

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    #7 TifosiUSA, Sep 10, 2018
    Huh? This thread is about their young driver program, or as I like to call it "The Mercedes You Will Be A Test Driver Until Lewis Retires Because We Don't Want To Ruffle His Feathers Program."

    First off, you're wrong. Ocon was available. Merc management knew that LH already had big problems with beating Rosberg consistently and knew it would be the same with Ocon so they went Bottas. And what is your explanation for them extending Bottas? Rather than extend his deal they could have signed one of these guys. Toto's quotes here make zero sense.

    Lol, hardly. It's tongue in cheek for the Lewis fanboys and British F1 media who act like Barrichello moved out of the way for MSC all the time. It's a myth. Honestly Bottas has moved out of the way/told not challenge Lewis/used as a pawn to help Lewis more times in 1.5 years for LH than Barrichello ever did for MSC.

    Will be interesting how they use Bottichello in Singapore. Poor guy still think he will win a race this year. Not if LH is on the track he won't, Merc will see to that.
     
  8. fer312t

    fer312t Formula Junior

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    #8 fer312t, Sep 10, 2018
    This is some hilarious stuff :D ...you actually Merc think would prioritize 'protecting' Lewis over scoring absolute maximum race wins and championships? Haha.

    Long story short, they want the best in their car...and they have him, and pay him big money to keep him - this ain't no charity.
    As far as keeping Bottas, it's really a no brainer. He's very fast (capable winning races and contributing big team points) and he's pleasant to deal with. No sense in having two superstars banging heads all the time. History has proven this is absolutely the best setup as far as maximizing team points.
     
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  9. TifosiUSA

    TifosiUSA F1 Veteran

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    #9 TifosiUSA, Sep 11, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2018
    Until this year their car has been so superior that protecting Lewis' ego was more important than having the best drivers possible, that much is clear. As soon as Rosberg retired after beating Hamilton, they went out of their way to sign someone subservient. Why do you think they signed Bottas over Ocon when his contract was up after last year? Again you were wrong in saying Wehrlein was the only option. They were worried Ocon would be too quick and we would have another Rosberg situation.

    What is the point of having a young driver program if you never promote anyone from it to your race seat? Hell Ocon might be out of a drive for next year. Wehrlein's career is over now. Pretty amazing. Ferrari just promoted LeClerc to their race seat and were planning on doing the same with Bianchi before he died. Red Bull promoted Ricciardo, Kvyat, Max and now Gasly. Merc...no one, which is what this thread is about. They won't be promoting anyone either as long as Lewis is driving. He likes Bottichello.

    I know you're a LH fanboy but please try to follow what we're talking about here.
     
  10. DeSoto

    DeSoto F1 Veteran

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    #10 DeSoto, Sep 11, 2018
    Well, I suppose they still would be able to seat them at other teams like they did with Wehrlein or Ocon if Toto wasn't so stingy.
     
  11. fer312t

    fer312t Formula Junior

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    #11 fer312t, Sep 12, 2018
    Again, you're not seeing the forest through the trees...
    The point is to win races and championships. And yes, sometimes it takes new, hungry drivers to do that...to provide that spark.

    But when you're already winning races and championships on a regular basis...:cool:

    ...they're not going to start randomly slotting in young drivers just to appease those that are so hopelessly desperate to see Hamilton toppled. :D
    Merc have a winning formula right now...like Ferrari 00-04 before them. The best driver on the grid and a fast an race win capable driver in the other car.

    Please forgive me if I'm not buying you altruism re: the 'Mercedes young driver program.' I think you just desperate for anything and everything that might upset the Merc/Hamilton applecart :D
     
  12. furoni

    furoni F1 World Champ

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    #12 furoni, Sep 12, 2018
    You keep barking at the wrong tree, this thread is about Toto and Merc sucking at "young drivers program"....Ocon is better than Bottichelo, and if he was a t that second Merc, Elton would be in serious trouble...(without team orders even his current handmaid would make his life diffuclt, this si the only reason why Ocon is currently out of drive for next year...he's too good to drive for merc!
     
  13. fer312t

    fer312t Formula Junior

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    #13 fer312t, Sep 12, 2018
    Let's return to planet earth for a moment...
    Ocon is talented for sure and deserves to be in Formula 1, and hope he gets time to develop...but he's not even beating Sergio Perez comprehensively at the moment.

    Ferrari is desperate to win a WDC, as the they have not done so in 10+ years - it is obvious they are exploring other angles to launch another dynasty.
    Merc is in the midst of one, and as of now, don't need to change anything.

    Toto's biggest problem re: his young driver is that the other Merc powered cars (Williams, FI) are (or will be) the domain of paydrivers. That is what needs sorting out at the moment.
     
  14. furoni

    furoni F1 World Champ

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    #14 furoni, Sep 12, 2018
    ..And you think Elton would beat Perez compreensively??? dream on!!!
     
  15. Etcetera

    Etcetera Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #15 Etcetera, Sep 12, 2018
    MB pushed through a wildly expensive engine formula, then complain because their customers cannot afford both engines and good drivers. MB are happy to let Sainz and Ocon twist while leaving Bottas to be Ham's lap dog. What is ze problem here, Herr's.

    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
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  16. TifosiUSA

    TifosiUSA F1 Veteran

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    #16 TifosiUSA, Sep 13, 2018
    lol cartoon perfectly illustrates what is going on

    sort of amazing f312t can't wrap his head around this...
     
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  17. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

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    #17 Bas, Sep 13, 2018
    Funny how they didn't promote Ocon. Or perhaps he was too fast for lil' lew
     

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