Silly Season 2016/2017

[notsofast]

From a public relations perspective, 2016 was not an easy year for Mercedes. I suspect they may prefer a quiet 2017 on the PR front. If I were in their shoes, I would probably want a driver who can haul in enough points to help win the WCC but would otherwise not likely to be challenging Hamilton.

But given that this is the silly topic, what if they were to get Button, and what if Button were to win the WDC, against expectations. Ouch.

[Eddie_Temple]

From a public relations perspective, 2016 was not an easy year for Mercedes. I suspect they may prefer a quiet 2017 on the PR front. If I were in their shoes, I would probably want a driver who can haul in enough points to help win the WCC but would otherwise not likely to be challenging Hamilton.

But given that this is the silly topic, what if they were to get Button, and what if Button were to win the WDC, against expectations. Ouch.

/sorry but know im new here.

have you heard of F1?

Nothing, not one single of gram penny spent on one single gram of tito-carbon-unobtanium-magic is towards having a "quite" PR front.

No, MERC will relish in the drama of 2016 keeping what was an otherwise boring season, contested by boring races, at the front of the medial circus.

Continuing this drama into 2017 will be MERC's most valuable asset, regardless of performance.

Expect MERC to MILK this opportunity for weeks.

we wont hear a 2017 driver lineup until jan 1st at min.

[FW17]

Let us see what Bernie does, he must be on call with Nikki ............................

MV - Fast in both Quali and Race

SV - Probably the only driver on the grid who can beat LH in Quali and will win all races starting from pole doing those magic first few laps. Will probably start taking only in german to irritate LH

FA - Fast in race but will have to rely on undercut to get ahead which will not happen with Merc Protocol

VB - Unknown, but maybe in the same level as NR

[Chuckjr]

Alonso all the way.

Bernie would fight for this. It would drive ratings through the ceiling -- not an empty seat in the house every weekend to see those guys go toe to toe. It's just what F1 needs to reinvigorate it as it moves into this new era of cars. People would be watching every session. Do it Toto!!

[ME4ME]

SV - Probably the only driver on the grid who can beat LH in Quali and will win all races starting from pole doing those magic first few laps. Will probably start taking only in german to irritate LH

I agree to some extent, but only a well rested and motivated Vettel can do it. In his current frustrated and unmotivated state he won't stand a chance, just like in 2014 against Ricciardo.

Ferrari however drags him along for all kind of events this month. They should send him home to spend time with his family with an order not to re-surface untill pre-season testing. That would do him well.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

SV - Probably the only driver on the grid who can beat LH in Quali and will win all races starting from pole doing those magic first few laps. Will probably start taking only in german to irritate LH

He was unable to beat the oldest driver on the grid this year (neither quali, nor race) and you think he can beat Lewis. Neither could he beat a new bee in 2014, who happened to be his team mate. His solid record comes by beating a below average Webber with those magic Newey cars.

[ME4ME]

He was unable to beat the oldest driver on the grid this year (neither quali, nor race) and you think he can beat Lewis. Neither could he beat a new bee in 2014, who happened to be his team mate. His solid record comes by beating a below average Webber with those magic Newey cars.

It still amazes me how based and blind you are GPR-A. Vettels weaknesses and bad years are well documented and discussed regularly. But what you cannot take away from him is the things he has achieved and the performances he has shown in his best years.

Webber used to be hailed as a great driver, before 2011, and was very quick over a singe lap. I wouldn't say his ultimate performance was any worse than Rosberg's, apart from his starts and maybe consistency. If you are going to downgrade Vettels achievements as solely a function of his dominant car, then the exact same argument can be used against Hamilton & Rosberg, having arguably an even more dominant car.

[ringo]

I agree, Vettel is not very fast in qualifying. He is good, but has been exposed by Kimi and Daniel.
We also have kimi's teammates and Daniel to gauge vettel. He is vey fast, but is not elite level. Verstappen isn't a fast qualifier at all either. Riciardo has his ticket in Q3.
Alonso's track record after Hamilton, has established that he is indeed very fast in both race and qualifying. He has beaten Kimi quite easily and Jenson. Alonso is probably the only person out there who will mount a proper challenge.
I don't think the others are mentally prepared to face Hamilton unless they have the team backing them.
And as much as people are talking down Nico, he was and is top 4 in terms of qualifying speed and precision. I don't think much drivers out there can beat Nico muchless go out there and try to beat Lewis in a team he has been in for 5 years.
Look back on Nico's days with williams and even against Michael, you will see that he is top drawer; always was.

Top 10 candidates in my book in terms of challenging Lewis:

Alonso**
Daniel Riccardo*
Sebastian Vettel**
Romain Grosjean
Max Verstappen*
Carlos Sainz
Sergio Perez
Jenson Button**
Kimi Raikonen**
Nico Hulkenberg

*race winners
** champions

But why are we after Hamilton though? like it's some kind of which hunt? I guess when you are seen as one of the greatest ever people can build a career out of beating you once over18 years ; such as Nico has demonstrated.

[NathanOlder]

He was unable to beat the oldest driver on the grid this year (neither quali, nor race) and you think he can beat Lewis. Neither could he beat a new bee in 2014, who happened to be his team mate. His solid record comes by beating a below average Webber with those magic Newey cars.

It still amazes me how based and blind you are GPR-A. Vettels weaknesses and bad years are well documented and discussed regularly. But what you cannot take away from him is the things he has achieved and the performances he has shown in his best years.

Webber used to be hailed as a great driver, before 2011, and was very quick over a singe lap. I wouldn't say his ultimate performance was any worse than Rosberg's, apart from his starts and maybe consistency. If you are going to downgrade Vettels achievements as solely a function of his dominant car, then the exact same argument can be used against Hamilton & Rosberg, having arguably an even more dominant car.

True but when Lewis was given a tough team mate (Alonso) he still came out on top. He also managed to win multiple races pretty much every year. Vettel has now has 2 seasons in top cars without a win. Lewis is more complete than Vet will ever be. As for Webber, I've always said he had 2 seasons alongside an old aging DC. and came out 1:1. Thats webber in his prime and DC well over the hill. Says it all. DC was never a great driver. If Lewis had Webber as team mate the last 3 years, I think Lewis would have won 15 races this season alone! And Max would still be looking for win number 1

As someone pointed out, Vettel achieved most of his success with full team backing. If Lewis had this status throughout his full F1 career he would have won 2007 & 2016 and possibly 2012.

So would be sitting on 6 titles at 31 yrs old.

[ThommyH]

Toto Wolf says, that every driver, who has his number, has called him. Additionally, Vettel and both Red Bull are not available. All other drivers will be considered.

Source: http://www.motorsport-total.com/f1/news ... 20302.html

[FW17]

There is a difference between driving a crap wagon and getting results and driving the best car on the grid.

Vettel has unbelievable speed when driving a top car.

[NathanOlder]

But we have no one to compare that against. For all we know the red bull in 10-13 could have been capable of another 0.4. Webber was the bench mark , seb beat that. If it was Jenson or Fernando in the 2 car then we would have a better idea.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Webber used to be hailed as a great driver, before 2011,

Yes, against the legendary Alex Yoong, Robert Doornboos, Christian klein and antonio pizzonia. One year where Nick Heidfeld partnered Webber, inspite of racing only 14 races, had better results than him. Two years with DC, he was down in both seasons with DC getting one podium. In 2009, Vettel got 4 poles and 4 wins whereas Webber got 1 pole and 2 wins. In 2010, Vettel got 10 poles and 5 wins, whereas Webber got 5 poles and 4 wins. Let's not even talk about 2011. The worst performance ever by a team mate in a dominating car.

So, tell me how great Vettel's record looks against Webber, the great driver before 2011.

[iotar__]

There is a difference between driving a crap wagon and getting results and driving the best car on the grid.
Vettel has unbelievable speed when driving a top car.

- with no competition in a dominant car anyone can look good long enough that people forget bad races, on top of RB's BS machine
- in a close second and mostly second/close third best car his speed as measured in seconds and not purple prose was not good at all, meaning recently slower too often than 37 -year old Raikkonen
- pretending that Ferrari was not a quick, top, easy to drive car, with no or limited competition is a very weak excuse for driver failing

- I spoke too soon turns out that performing well and winning is the wrong thing to do in F1 that forces you to retire.
- best candidates for Merc on sporting merit are the same as for Ferrari: Grosjean, Bottas and Perez. In that order. World of corporate and media fiction is something else.
- Cheap prediction: Bottas to Merc, Button to Williams

[ME4ME]

The bottom line is that FW17's statement, that Vettel could be one of the drivers able to beat Hamilton, is totally realistic.

Ofcourse there is no direct comparison between Vettel and Hamilton, or Vettel and Alonso, they haven't been in the same team at the same time. All I'm saying is that you cannot disregard Vettel's ultimate talent based upon one or two struggeling seasons. He won 4 championships, arguably being the best driver in 3 of those seasons. Even last year, in a Ferrari, not a Newey designed car he did great. F1fanatic, often providing very sensible and well argumented views, ranked him as best driver of the season. http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2015/12/18/2 ... an-vettel/