Silly Season 2016/2017

[Daliracing]

Maldonado ftw!

[Wynters]

Rules changes means putting a youngster in the car is a big gamble.

I personally hope to see Alonso lining up next to Hamilton next season. Best drivers in the same car with a decade of experience since they last lined up together. A three year battle between them would be epic!

Won't happen though

[i70q7m7ghw]

Top teams and McLaren will probably not allow a contract buyout, so Button, Alonso or Vettel look to be out of the question (unless clausules come into play). Wehrlein would be free, but Mercedes might feel he is not ready yet.

The most solid and most realistic option I think would be Sergio Perez. Force India does allow that if sufficient compensation is given.

You can't force a driver to race for you. If Alonso walks out, how can they force him to stay? Button did it to Williams.

[continuum16]

For Rosberg's seat and the impacts at each team:

Williams: Bottas could leave but that severely compromises Williams for next year, and would require significant $$$.

Force India: Perez re-signed, but there was skepticism. However if he left the problem is the same as Williams.

Manor: Wehrlein doesn't appear to have a seat yet, and he has tested for the team before. Least amount of impact on Manor, but is he good enough?

Other teams:

McLaren: Alonso requires $$$ and would be VERY hard to get. Not impossible.

Ferrari: Kimi stays, Vettel will likely stay, but not certain.

Watch this space: Toro Rosso
If they would let Sainz go then they could get Gasly in and keep Kvyat (for experience). Sainz has proven to be a formidable foe to Verstappen.

[nokivasara]

Rules changes means putting a youngster in the car is a big gamble.

I personally hope to see Alonso lining up next to Hamilton next season. Best drivers in the same car with a decade of experience since they last lined up together. A three year battle between them would be epic!

Won't happen though

Vettel to Mercedes and Alonso to Ferrari, hoping they have got their 2017 car figured out. Only to find out that McLaren beats Ferrari in the WCC...

Wehrlein is probably the most logical choise but with all these champs on the grid, hoping for one more shot at the title, it's just too much to speculate about!

[Jolle]

I think, with the uncertainty of the picking order of 2017, Merceds will go conservative and get Wehrlein to be a real nr 2 driver, bit like heikki was in 2008/2009. That way the Mercedes drivers won't steal any pointe from each other what could be valuable in case RedBull builds an even better car then this year (or Ferrari of course)

[PlatinumZealot]

Possible clauses:

Vettel writes his own contracts, he wrote his Red Bull contract and would have know his 'performance' in 14 would easily allow him to take fernandos seat once Ferrari fired him.

For sure Vettel has played the same contract game at Ferrari and opens the potential that he was never going to pass Nico if the Germans had a word before the race about retirement.

Alonso is known for having similar clauses and not a chance McLarens performance this year doesn't allow him an easy exit.

These two seem obvious choices, Vettel more likely as he has more runway left than Alonso and Lewis threatens to leave on a daily basis it seems .

Otherwise have some balls and go with a young unknown in your own driver program, Red Bull gains massive respect for only promoting within - and it works considering they have the best young drivers on the planet.

Vettel plays too dirty for Mercedes to hire him. It would be Redbull 2010 all over again, except Vettel would be the Webber in the situation. Too much stress for Toto though Hamilton would relish it.

[clipsy1H]

Mick Schumacher to Mercedes

[AMG.Tzan]

People dreaming of Alonso or Vettel to Mercedes keep dreaming! Paddy Lowe i think was at Mclaren in 2007 so he experienced the Alonso-Hamilton fight very well! And Hamilton was still a rookie then...! Not only that but we all know what happened that year and who took the championship at last! Hamilton-Rosberg was already a headache for Mercedes...they don't need an ever bigger one! And i think that now every team has its team leader Ferrari-Vettel, Mercedes-Hamilton, Mclaren-Alonso, Red Bull-Ricciardo and i think it's better for these drivers and these teams!
After all there are so many nice drivers out there maybe faster than Rosberg that are in need of a better car like: Bottas, Perez, Hulkenberg, Grosjean...but for me the best choice for the them if they can take him away is Carlos Sainz Jr!! Already 2 seasons in Formula 1...proven against Verstappen who now drives for a big team!! Young fast driver that will hear to the team and maybe get a championship in the future after Hamilton retires!!
The kid must leave Red Bull...there is no future for him there...Ric and Ves will be there for a long long time and even if they are not he still risks being forgotten in the midfield! He has to take this opportunity!! Otherwise Wehrlein is the last choice but i am not so sure about his driving standards altough being a big fan of him when he was racing in the DTM!!

[thelimey]

William Hill are running a book on Rosbergs replacement:
3/1 Wehrlein
5/1 Alonso, Vettel
6/1 Ocon
9/1 Sainz Jr
10/1 Bottas
12/1 Grosjean
14/1 Button, Hulkenberg, Perez
18/1 Ricciardo
20/1 Verstappen
40/1 Magnussen
50/1 Ericsson
66/1 Raikkonen, Gutierrez
80/1 Massa, Kvyat
100/1 Nasr

[Shakeman]

1,000,000/1 Maldonado

[Jolle]

William Hill are running a book on Rosbergs replacement:
3/1 Wehrlein
5/1 Alonso, Vettel
6/1 Ocon
9/1 Sainz Jr
10/1 Bottas
12/1 Grosjean
14/1 Button, Hulkenberg, Perez
18/1 Ricciardo
20/1 Verstappen
40/1 Magnussen
50/1 Ericsson
66/1 Raikkonen, Gutierrez
80/1 Massa, Kvyat
100/1 Nasr

Hmmm, i would go for Bottas, good odds, good choice for Mercedes, could be a steady straight up teammate that Lewis wants/needs and already Mercedes/Wolff employed.

[Shakeman]

I cannot see Alonso at Merc given the history and Vettel wouldn't want to go up against Lewis given Ricciardo showed him a clean pair of heels.

Saintz Jr has limited opportunity at RB who could be an outside chance.

I bet Merc are in fits of rage over Rosberg's resignation because it leaves them with piss poor options that they're not in control of. It seems a shitty thing to do to your team.

[FrukostScones]

I cannot see Alonso at Merc given the history and Vettel wouldn't want to go up against Lewis given Ricciardo showed him a clean pair of heels.

Saintz Jr has limited opportunity at RB who could be an outside chance.

I bet Merc are in fits of rage over Rosberg's resignation because it leaves them with piss poor options that they're not in control of. It seems a shitty thing to do to your team.

ha, he did a HAM

so if they are really after BOT now eh???
WEH seems to be less of alternative right now.
Mmm.

[Shakeman]

ha, he did a HAM

Not even remotely similar.