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Post by dogued on Apr 12, 2017 0:30:10 GMT
I know, I know.... 2017 has only JUST begun, but honestly, when was the last time we saw this many potential seats up for grabs across the field? So many drivers with their seat on the line, so many waiting for a chance to get back in, and so much young talent plying their trade in the junior categories! The table show who has a contract already in place for 2018. I believe Bottas had a 1yr contract with the option for a 2nd if key targets were hit, so it's likely he will stay at Mercedes. Team | Driver 1 | Driver 2 | Mercedes | Lewis Hamilton | Valtteri Bottas | Ferrari | Sebastian Vettel | Kimi Raikkonen
| Red Bull | Daniel Ricciardo | Max Verstappen | Williams | Lance Stroll | | McLaren | Fernando Alonso
| Stoffel Vandoorne | Renault | Nico Hulkenburg | Carlos Sainz | Torro Rosso | Gasly | Hartly | Haas | Kevin Magnussen
| Romain Grosjean | Sauber |
| | Force India | Esteban Occon | Sergio Perez |
* BOLD confirmedOut Of Contract - Current Drivers
| Felipe Massa |
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| Joylon Plamer |
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| Marcus Ericssion | Pascal Wehrlein |
Test/Reserve/Development DriversAntonio Giovinazzi, Pierre Gasly, Niko Kari, Charles Leclerc, Antonio Fuoco, Oliver Rowland, Nobuharu Matsushita, Sergey Sirotkin, Nyck de Vries Ex Drivers / Other SeriesFelipe Nasr, Jenson Button, Jean Eric Vergne, Oliver Turvey, Rio Haryanto, Robert Kubica *UPDATED* From some more trawling, I believe now that Stroll has a 3 year contract with Williams worth $35m a year to Williams. I can't see them getting rid of that after just one year, this is the team that kept Pastor going for so long after all!
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Post by Wß on Apr 12, 2017 0:36:25 GMT
Hmmm... we may not need to wait until 2018 for some of the name changes the way things are going.
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Post by dogued on Apr 12, 2017 0:45:47 GMT
At this point, I would like to see:
Mercedes - Hamilton & Bottas Ferrari - Vettel & Sainz Red Bull - Ricciardo & Verstappen Williams - Stroll & Grosjean Force India - Occon & Perrez Torro Rosso - Kvyat & Gasly McLaren - Vandoorne & Alonso (Matsushita to replace Alonso for 2019) Haas - Magnussen & Leclerc Renault - Hulkenburg & Sirotkin Sauber - Giovinazzi & De Vries (and to be Honda powered)
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Post by racechick on Apr 23, 2017 2:03:41 GMT
Sainz is a no brainier for Ferrari
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Post by Hammer on Apr 23, 2017 3:12:54 GMT
A real Italian who seems to be quite fast to join Ferrari....can't help feeling the wannabe Italian already in Ferrari would 'veto' that possibility.
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Post by racechick on Apr 23, 2017 13:30:09 GMT
Do you reckon he'd have that veto power?
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Post by Frontrunner on Apr 24, 2017 6:53:41 GMT
Also think either Ricciardo or Verstappen are on the Ferrari radar too, yes they both have contracts for 2018 but depends if they have get out clauses, especially as the car isn't up to scratch. Vettel used his get out clause during his awful 2014 season with Red Bull so perhaps a slight chance for either RIC or VER maybe... but unlikely.
Also what about Grosjean, perhaps another contender for the Kimi seat next year?
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Post by Hammer on Apr 24, 2017 8:14:33 GMT
Do you reckon he'd have that veto power? Their previous German superstar did!
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Post by dogued on Apr 24, 2017 10:00:34 GMT
Pretty sure Vettle has veto power.. I vaguely remember it being mentioned when replacements for Kimi were discussed last year.
As for Red Bull...... I imagine that they will have lock tight contracts, not allowing a star to "escape" like Vettel again.
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Post by Wß on Apr 24, 2017 23:20:07 GMT
Vettel wouldn't have left had he not been bitched slapped by Ricciardo. I suspect that Ferrari will do what they always do, keep Kimi again because he's good for the sale of chachkies or go for Perez or Grossjean, drivers who've already professed their love.
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Post by racechick on Apr 25, 2017 0:26:07 GMT
Yeah, agree about Vettel. His stock was falling when Ricciardo showed him up for a whole season. He had to move when he did to save his reputation.
To be fair to him, he has performed well at Ferrari. But his teammate is a disinterested Off the boil Kimi. I'd love to see Sainz in there!
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Post by dogued on May 12, 2017 2:13:56 GMT
At this point, I would like to see: Mercedes - Hamilton & Bottas Ferrari - Vettel & Sainz Red Bull - Ricciardo & Verstappen Williams - Stroll & Grosjean Force India - Occon & Perrez Torro Rosso - Kvyat & Gasly McLaren - Vandoorne & Alonso (Matsushita to replace Alonso for 2019) Haas - Magnussen & Leclerc Renault - Hulkenburg & Sirotkin Sauber - Giovinazzi & De Vries (and to be Honda powered) *Ahem* Can I just point out the Sauber prediction for Honda Power was spot on
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Post by Wß on May 12, 2017 12:00:26 GMT
I can't blame you.
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Post by dogued on Jul 22, 2017 0:26:21 GMT
Confirmation of HAAS lineup for 2018: Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen
Horner recently said: So do we take that as Sainz & Kvyat are staying? We all know that until there's an official release, anything is up for change (and even after in the case where someone decides the stress is too much and needs to retire!)
Add to that the once seemingly improbable return of Kubica is gaining more and more traction at the expense of Jolyon "I just want to finish!" Palmer.
It's looking less and less likely we'll see the wholesale changes for 2018 that were tipped. Maybe a lot of 1+1 contracts to get to 2019?
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Post by dogued on Aug 7, 2017 11:25:13 GMT
Mid Season means a few weeks without a race... so had a chance to rethink my 2018 line up... and here's what I have now: Team | Driver 1 | Driver 2 | Mercedes | Lewis Hamilton | Valtteri Bottas | Ferrari | Sebastian Vettel | Kimi Raikkonen
| Red Bull | Daniel Ricciardo | Max Verstappen | Williams | Lance Stroll | Sergio Perez | McLaren | Fernando Alonso
| Stoffel Vandoorne | Renault | Nico Hulkenburg | Robert Kubica | Torro Rosso | Carlos Sainz | Pierre Gasly | Haas | Kevin Magnussen
| Romain Grosjean | Sauber | Charles Leclerc
| Antonio Giovinazzi | Force India | Esteban Occon | Pascal Wehrlein |
* BOLD confirmedOut Of F1
Danill Kvyat Felipe Massa Joylon Palmer Marcus Ericsson Reasons:Mercedes - Obvious. Hamilton has a contract, and Bottas will get at the least a 2yr extension (unless there was something in the buyout from Williams that gave them first option in 2019) Ferrari - Vettel will resign a 3yr contract and push for a 1yr extension for Kimi. Raikkonen will get that 1yr more and step away at the end of 2018. Red Bull - Already said it's all signed up at LEAST till the end of 2018. Can't see anyone buying out a contract. Williams - They need to look ahead, they can't keep Massa and move forward. Wehrlein was a thought here, but I believe Martini require a driver over 25yrs for sponsor events. Perez can step in here and be given #1 status, something he craves, and be allowed to rise with the team over the next 2 years. Stroll is paying FAR too much for the team to dump, and now his nerves have settled, I think he'll be a competent #2 / midfield driver. McLaren - For all the noise, I think it'll stay the same here. The car IS showing an improvement every weekend, both in aero and PU. I am still firmly of the belief that Alonso has been promised the world; everything to be thrown at the car prior to next season, extra "bonus" payments, and the lead for McLaren Indy 2019. Norris or De Vries to replace him for 2019. Renault - Hulk has resigned, and Renault would NOT have put this much effort into Kubica out of the kindness of their hearts unless they had a FIRM belief that they wanted him for 2018. Unless the internal debrief is "guys, I'm sorry, I just can't take the physicality of current F1", he will get a year. Palmer, much as I believe he's been hampered by having the fragile car, has not made a big enough splash to keep his seat, or any seat in F1. Torro Rosso - Horner made a big song and dance about keeping Sainz, and he's given them no reason NOT to have him there as a backup for the RBR pair. Kvyat however, I think has done his dash. He's a penalty magnet and just not getting consistent results. Gasly is waiting in the wings and if they don't move him in soon, may look to other partnerships. Haas - Confirmed. I really thought K-Mag would get the chop, and Gro has just become the biggest whinger in the field... maybe all change for 2019? Sauber - Baby Ferrari? Given the dumping of Honda, and the press around Ferrari wanting to get a "junior" team, I can see an injection of support staff and "advice" on drivers. Pascal is gone, Ferrari would not allow a Mercedes driver to stay. Leclerc is a certainty for that seat as Ferrari groom him to be their next champion. Ericsson has family ties to one of the investor companies, but I really think Ferrari will push the "Torro Rosso" template here and try for 2 rookies to begin a dynasty. Giovinazzi has done a decent job with limited running. Perhaps look for an Ericsson/Giovinazzi shoot out at the Abu Dhabi post-season test for the final seat. Force India - Occon is contracted. This was the 50/50 call for me. Perez has done enough to earn his seat here, despite a few little tantrums lately, but Mercedes will want Wehrlein to stay in F1 and probably offer a salary deal to whoever signs him. As I mentioned earlier, I don't think Williams can take him, so the only option left is here. I don't think it will hurt Force India having 2 young drivers, and I think it may give Occon a chance to fly.
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Post by Wß on Aug 7, 2017 11:58:29 GMT
I think you've got some pretty solid reasoning behind your picks. In the end, Kimi and Bottas will be the two dominos at each end of the chain. One or the other has to move for it to impact and seating arrangement and ripple throughout the remainder of the teams.
Both Kimi and Bottas seem rather safe although I'd put money on Bottas staying before I'd put money on Kimi staying. Especially if they feel that he fell short in the first half of the year, effectively giving Mercedes the leg up on the WCC. Not that Ferrari as looking for the money but even they will begrudge losing the 30 million or so difference on top of the salary they give Kimi. (heard it was something in the 15 million Euro range?) if that's the case, they can get quite a few drivers for a fraction of the cost that will perform as good or better than Kimi in the same situation.
Alonso is the other unknown as he's likely going to do what's right for him first. Imagine something completely out of left field... Verstappen to Ferrari and Alonso to Red Bull? Would never happen of course, Vettel has say over who come onboard but it's fun to throw out wild guesses around.
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Post by dogued on Aug 7, 2017 12:13:48 GMT
I know Kimi has been a bit of a let down in the first half, but I'm hearing a lot of chatter about Seb wanting a 1yr for Kimi as part of his agreement to sign; although where Seb could possibly go means that Ferrari might not take his threat all too seriously!
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Post by London on Aug 7, 2017 17:18:10 GMT
dogued I think you can confirm for Vandoorne, Zac Brown said he will stay because they think he’s a future WC. I don't think he will go back on his words. And the Sauber’s owners are the Ericsson’s backers so how could he (Gio) replace him ?
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Post by Frontrunner on Aug 8, 2017 13:22:05 GMT
I agree with 2018 driver choices there dogued, only ones I think won't happen is Pascal at Force India, Perez to stay at Force India and Paul Di Resta to get the Massa seat at Williams. The Grove team seemed quite impressed by his efforts at Budapest so Di Resta might have played himself into contention for that drive perhaps. Unfortunately for Pascal, he misses out entirely. I'm still surprised that Pascal didn't get the Force India drive this year alongside Perez as I thought his 2016 season in the Manor was quite impressive.
And also think Ericsson stays at Sauber as well.
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Post by Wß on Aug 8, 2017 14:38:47 GMT
Pascal is a bit of a mystery, It seems Mercedes have him under their wing to a degree, but that he's not wowing them enough to get the full nod. Unless the rumors about him being difficult to work with are true, there's certainly something going on.
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