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Post by LRW on Dec 14, 2016 15:24:45 GMT
Dec.13 - Pastor Maldonado says he is working on his return to formula one. As a TV pundit for Venezuelan TV. |
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Post by Wß on Dec 15, 2016 13:40:45 GMT
Bottas linked with Mercedes and Mercedes delaying their ennouncement until early next year; I think there's some deep negotiating going on. 1lemon must be going crazy. |
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Post by racechick on Dec 15, 2016 16:36:44 GMT
Yes, hadn't thought of that one........But Rossi  Vale and Lewis in one team. What would I do then if things kicked off? |
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Post by Hammer on Dec 15, 2016 18:24:12 GMT
Rumours that Williams are talking to Massa to come back out of retirement.
Looks like Bottas is all but confirmed already. Solid, A- driver who can rack up WCC points. Is this what Wolff was calling "a bold decision"? Sounds like one of the safest out there to me. Even safer than the swerve-into-others driver who just left the seat.
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Post by dogued on Dec 16, 2016 1:59:22 GMT
Massa only retired to save face, he'd jump at doing another season.
Williams will hold out till they get their 2017 allotment of engines pretty close to free. Bottas + Williams engines will only be slightly more than the cost of Nico for a year, so Mercedes will take that eventually.
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Post by Wß on Dec 16, 2016 2:05:28 GMT
Sort of makes that whole emotional paddock walk in front of the Brazilian fans kind of moot.
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Post by Hammer on Dec 16, 2016 5:49:36 GMT
It will be hilarious if he actually came back.
And crashed again in Brazil and did another walk of retirement in 2017.
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Post by LRW on Dec 16, 2016 7:02:03 GMT
So. Who is better.
Rosberg or Bottas.
And let's all be objective about this.
For me it's a tough one. When Bottas first came on the scene I thought Bottas was going to be a smash hit. But he has been unfortunate not to have got a real decent car. So he has kinda just faded into midtable obscurity.
So basically we can't answer the question until he gets in the Mercedes.
Ok. Ignore me.
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Post by racechick on Dec 16, 2016 8:58:06 GMT
Rosberg is a good qualifier, I think in qualifying better than Bottas.
Bottas is probably a better racer. I haven't seen him swerve into competitors or park the car to stop qualifying.
And he's probably better in the wet than Rosberg.......who was bad. It's difficult to tell because the Williams was bad in the wet,
Psychologically I imagine Bottas is stronger. Stoic is a word that comes to mind. I don't think he'll go all air head in a race if things start to get away from him. ...you know, like forget how to change gear and have to ask the team.
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Post by RyRy on Dec 16, 2016 9:14:34 GMT
I would LOVE it if Kvyat got the seat, I'd want Lewis to lose the championship just to say fuck you to Red Bull
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Post by Hammer on Dec 16, 2016 10:06:20 GMT
So. Who is better. Rosberg or Bottas. And let's all be objective about this. For me it's a tough one. When Bottas first came on the scene I thought Bottas was going to be a smash hit. But he has been unfortunate not to have got a real decent car. So he has kinda just faded into midtable obscurity. So basically we can't answer the question until he gets in the Mercedes. Ok. Ignore me. Tough one. He peaked immediately when he joined F1, and has stayed at that peak (which isn't such a peak). Better than Massa definitely, but that's not saying much. Who knows, he might come into his own at Mercedes....it's tough to say. Some people do very well in shitty cars (Fisichella, Heidfeld, Alonso to an extent) but when they're at front they crumble or just can't cut it. Bottas might be the opposite. Or be another solid driver like Rosberg who doesn't swerve into others. Rosberg had this self entitlement thing (I was with the team from the start so I'm important even if I suck). |
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Post by Wß on Dec 16, 2016 10:41:02 GMT
Like RC said, Bottas is far better in the wet. Still remember his qualifying performance in Canada when he first came on. I'm okay with his being a/the choice for Mercedes, especially if their aim is the WCC again next year. But it's not the "brave" choice Toto is selling.
Basically it proves to be that the only young driver programs worth anything and Red Bull and McLaren since Mercedes and Ferrari are unwilling to promote their young drivers.
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Post by dogued on Dec 16, 2016 15:07:25 GMT
Basically it proves to be that the only young driver programs worth anything and Red Bull and McLaren since Mercedes and Ferrari are unwilling to promote their young drivers. It's not that cut and dry, RBR have STR as a test bed for their drivers. They haven't been "brave" and promoted from outside F1. Vettel only got promoted because Coulthard retired and he performed well @ STR Ricciardo only got promoted because Webber retired and he performed well @ STR Verstappen only got promoted because Kyvat imploded and Max was performing well @ STR 6 drivers have driven for RBR since 2007 with only 4 of them being from the 11 STR drivers over the same period. For Mercedes' part, I think this is all a year too soon. The use of Manor as a test bench is only in it's first year, they needed Nico to flap around showing how he's got the talent to be a B2B champ! |
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Post by RyRy on Dec 16, 2016 17:17:44 GMT
I'd actually say Bottas copes way better with pressure, he's also better in the wet BUT Rosberg is better in qualifying.
As for racing, not really sure I'd probably say they're pretty equal
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Post by Hammer on Dec 16, 2016 17:31:56 GMT
I'd actually say Bottas copes way better with pressure, he's also better in the wet BUT Rosberg is better in qualifying. As for racing, not really sure I'd probably say they're pretty equal I'd actually give Rosberg the edge in racing. Bottas is a bit of a lame-o when it comes to being aggressive, he hardly fights much like Kimi. (Though Kimi was different in his heydays). For example I can't imagine Bottas making do or die moves like Rosberg did on Verstappen in Abu Dhabi, gotta admit that was an awesome one. |
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Post by Wß on Dec 16, 2016 19:17:41 GMT
I think Bottas hasn't gotten the chance, the taste of victory can do things to a man. Honestly the more I think about it the more I think they both have equal pros and cons. Rosberg probably a much better qualifier, Bottas I think would let his pace to his talking and there's no comparison between the two in the rain.
Personally I'd have picked up Sainz or given Werhlein a chance. The fact that they're not rushing to Werhlein though is telling us something. What? I'm not sure of, although there's been quite a bit of reporting that he was very difficult to work with in the garage but then if that's the case why would Mercedes keep him on?
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Post by dogued on Dec 21, 2016 7:58:48 GMT
Well looks like it's all but done; Massa will return to Williams, Bottas will move to Mercedes. Williams will free up around $10m from a reduced engine cost, which will be good news for their shareholders and hopefully enable them to work out a way to make their car work in corners!
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Post by Wß on Dec 21, 2016 12:30:35 GMT
Massa outqualified Bottas 4 times this year.
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Post by Wß on Dec 21, 2016 13:27:33 GMT
Two contracts up for Ferrari next season.  Will Vettel show the fortitude and loyalty of a 4X WDC or will he leave the team for greener pastures with Kimi's resurgence. I hope Ferrari have a competitive car next season they can develop all they want, why wouldn't they be able to? What does it all mean? So much code here from Sergio. |
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Post by Wß on Jan 3, 2017 11:04:56 GMT
Wehrlein in at Sauber pretty much leaves only Manor seats to fill. Confirmed Grid 2017 Mercedes- Lewis Hamilton & Valteri Bottas Red Bull- Daniel Ricciardo & Max Verstappen Ferrari- Sebastian Vettel & Kimi Räikkönen Force India- Sergio Pérez & Esteban Ocan Williams- Felipe Massa & Lance Stroll McLaren- Fernando Alonso & Stoffel Vandoorne Toro Rosso- Daniil Kvyat & Carlos Sainz Haas- Romain Grosjean & Kevin Magnussen Renault- Nico Hülkenberg & Jolyan Palmer Manor- Sauber- Marcus Ericsson & Pascal Wehrlein Edit: shame.
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Will Vettel show the fortitude and loyalty of a 4X WDC or will he leave the team for greener pastures with Kimi's resurgence. I hope Ferrari have a competitive car next season they can develop all they want, why wouldn't they be able to?