Silly Season 2012/2013

[N12ck]

Well we do all know what happened last time there was a huge regulation change with Honda/Brawn/Mercedes ..... Back to low noses, which this team has a lot of knowledge on.

[zyphro]

Interesting development.

If Hamilton goes to Merc, Schumacher will either go to Ferrari or retire methinks. I wouldn't be surprised if Jordan is correct: he was bang on about Schumacher at the end of 2009.

[raymondu999]

Eddie Jordan apparently says Hamilton will replace Schumacher next year!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19489930

It sounds a lot like rumor mungoring though.

The only way I can see this making sense is if Hamilton is after a short term contract, so that he can move to RBR or Ferrari the year after.

I doubt it - but then we all called him idiots for saying (on the Friday of the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix) that Schumacher WAS going to sign for Brawn GP, and that it would change ownership (and name) to Mercedes.

On the other hand, he says a lot of crazy things - so when one comes true, like that, he becomes the ultimate genius, because no one else called the events correctly.

But it would certainly make for something interesting. As I've said before in this thread - I'd love a top team shakeup. 2-3 driver changes don't really constitute a "shakeup" for me, but it's a start.

[Phillyred]

and . I'd rather see Lewis at Ferrari. Mercedes continues to lag behind in the R&D race. I'd welcome Kimi to Mclaren though.

[Forza]

McLaren spokesperson on BBC #f1 Lewis to Mercedes story: "We have been told by Lewis Hamilton's management team that the story is untrue."

[zyphro]

McLaren spokesperson on BBC #f1 Lewis to Mercedes story: "We have been told by Lewis Hamilton's management team that the story is untrue."

They're not exactly going to come out and say: "OMG it's true!111!!!" .

[zyphro]

Apparently Hamilton to sing for Mercedes next year and Shumacher to retire at the end of season based on BBC news and Edie Jordan words

I heard he was going to rap for them too; might be why Lupe Fiasco was visible at his side of the McLaren garage, last weekend .

[raymondu999]

Note though - the story is that Lewis has reached a deal and a deal could be impending. If Lewis has signed for Merc already, then that story would be "untrue." If Lewis has agreed on a handshake, but XIX management considers that the promised contract signing date is "not imminent" then yeah.

Just playing devil's advocate here.

[Morteza]

I didn't know McLaren were going to pay for Mercedes engines from 2013 onwards. At least that part is true

[beelsebob]

The biggest bit of this could simply be that Lewis needs to make McLaren think there's a credible place he could move to to strengthen his bargaining position.

[Chuckjr]

It would be fantastic to see LH leave Macca--I think both would do better w/o the other. Maybe the antics we are seeing from him are due to his already having left in his head, and he no longer feels obligated to the team. It would certainly bring some sense to his recent poor behavioral choices.

[FrukostScones]

Lewis should focus on the real stuff, if he should leave McLaren to join MGP that would be a waste of his talent, if he really wants to leave then he should go to Sauber and get back his credibility by becoming WDC with them. He certainly has the wrong management and advisors, his behavior is a joke, they just want to cash up and I hope McLaren antiseptics department will say NO to everything he s asking for! It would be really thrilling if he is forced to leave. If he would compete in a Sauber or Force India or Lotus that would be great. just for headlines! (But as he and his buddies want big cash he will stay, or if Mercedes offers big dollars the he is probably theirs.)

Btw. Hülkenberg apparently has a pre-contract for 2013 with Ferrari.

[ESPImperium]

In F1 where theres smoke theres usually fire.

Schumacher retiring from Career Pt2 and Hamilton going to Mercedes would make sence. His McLaren deal is seemingly for a single year with a 7 figure base sallary and a decent 5 figure sum attached for every point he gets at every weekend and a drivers championship bonus and constructors title bonus. XIX is looking for a multi year deal, a deal that lasts for 3 years with a option for another 2 with a sallary arround the Alonso mark of €18m a year with a €5m bonus for the Drivers title and €2m for the constructors title. Market value for Hamilton is €22m including bonuses in my opinion.

There is one other thing that would make sence, there is a certain soft drinks manufacturer looking to invest in a F1 team to the tune of €25m a year, they are looking at investing a minimum of €40m in motorsport in order to have their brand in where Red Bull have their brand.

Hamilton to Mercedes makes so much sence as this could also be included, as Mercedes could be sponsored by Coca Cola and have Hamilton endorse Powerade.

It also make sence as regaurd to Force India as well, as it would mean Hulkenberg could go to Ferrari and become the #2 that Ferrari needs beside Alonso and Di Resta could keep the all British line up at McLaren, as Di Resta is looking to be managed by Buttons management and is also good friends with Button. Di Resta is also a BRDC Autosport Mclaren Young Driver Of The Year as well.

It would tally with the Force India situation with Sutil being in their hospitality for 6 of the past 8 races now, as well as a good young driver as well that can pay a decent ammount as Malya and Sahara are both now in financial difficulty and could well be looking to sell the team.

Id expect to see some good movement on the driver front in the next couple of weeks, if not this weekend as its monza and traditionally there is at least one or two teams that do their buisness before leaving Europe and like things tied down to keep team contenuity.

[RB7ate9]

In terms of drivers that could replace Hamilton at Mclaren, I would actually (more like naturally) suggest Webber if he hadn't signed already for another year with Red Bull. It may not continue the all-GB line-up, but they have raced a long time against each other (so there's a bit of respect there) as well as the contrasting styles of racing (Button's smooth, Webber's gritty, but both overtake smartly) would do well for Mclaren. Also, both Button and Webber get along well with their mechanics and race teams; a very congenial pairing, really.

If Hamilton's supposedly going to Mercedes, and the all-German line-up is gone, I suppose this may be due to Mercedes thinking of scaling back their support further and using Hamilton to bring in sponsorship.

[zyphro]

The biggest bit of this could simply be that Lewis needs to make McLaren think there's a credible place he could move to to strengthen his bargaining position.

I think that is the ploy.

However, Ronzo is never one to be pushed into that position.

IF he does move, Hamilton to be the modern-day Villeneuve?

I do get the feeling that, Schumacher won't quit. Afterall, why should he? He's shown up his team-mate in qualifying this season, who is touted to be one of the quickest over a single lap. The only reason I could see him quitting is if Corinna won't let him do another few yrs . I'd like to see him move seats; Mercedes doesn't seem to be working out & he doesn't have time to wait around to get reasonable shot at his comeback win.