Silly Season 2016/2017

[Thunder]

Interview with Toto :
http://www.sport1.de/motorsport/formel1 ... sberg-erbe

For what it's worth.....
- he wants Wehrlein to have one or two more Years at a midfield Team
- they will respect existing Contracts other Drivers have (Vettel....) since they wouldn't want their own drivers leaving for the next best Team either ("that's what Contracts are for").....

We'll see how much truth is in that.

[Phil]

Not a single doubt in my mind. Mercedes would have to be crazy not to sign him. It really is their only 'solution' to the really big problem Rosberg has left them with.

IMO, they'd be crazy to sign him. You don't need two egos at the team, pushing for different things. There is no benefit. Besides, Alonso is getting old, eventually, Lewis too. What they need is something with future. Someone like Nico, who has stayed with the team and contributed to the steady development that finally made them a championship winning team.

They'd sign Alonso in a heartbeat as a replacement to Hamilton, but as a team-mate? I'm not sure. Ideally, you want one driver to be the safe bet, consistent, reliable and win proven. This is already Hamilton. This enables the team such as Mercedes to go conservative on their second seat. If they want to pave the way for a future 'home grown driver', they'll take someone from their junior program. That's either going to be Wehrlein (perhaps too young) or Bottas (experienced). With Wehrlein, at least, you can play it safe and go for a 1-year deal without much fuzz. If he falls short, you'll have a lot of options going into 2018. Vettel should be free by then too or if Ocon amazes in 2017, he might be on the table too. One way or the other, you'd have a younger driver learning and following Hamiltons footsteps. If you get two high caliber drivers in the same team, you run the risk that they might be pulling in opposite directions. Sure, it's possible, but I don't think they'll go for it.

Mercedes are in a great position. They don't need Alonso. Alonso was once a big name in the sport, but he has fallen under the radar so to speak, as a result of him driving for McLaren who is right at the back of the grid. Signing him, will not light the world on fire in PR terms I'm sure. It would just get us racing fanatics a hard on, but won't result in better image exposure for Mercedes. Vettel would be better from that point of view.

I honestly think they'll go with either Bottas (if they can) or Wehrlein for a 1 year deal. Then let it pan out. If it doesn't, they can still grab Alonso or Vettel in 2018 if they feel they must. If the team performs well, it will still be the most desirable seat in F1 to have (besides maybe a Ferrari seat if history and prestige is what you want).

[Thunder]

I'll just quote myself from the last page, since no one will read it there anyways... ^^

Interview with Toto :
http://www.sport1.de/motorsport/formel1 ... sberg-erbe

For what it's worth.....
- he wants Wehrlein to have one or two more Years at a midfield Team
- they will respect existing Contracts other Drivers have (Vettel....) since they wouldn't want their own drivers leaving for the next best Team either ("that's what Contracts are for").....

We'll see how much truth is in that.

[hemichromis]

Toto Wolff: " You have to consider Alonso"

More fuel for the fire!!

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/ ... co-rosberg

[Gerhardsa]

I'll just quote myself from the last page, since no one will read it there anyways... ^^

Interview with Toto :
http://www.sport1.de/motorsport/formel1 ... sberg-erbe

For what it's worth.....
- he wants Wehrlein to have one or two more Years at a midfield Team
- they will respect existing Contracts other Drivers have (Vettel....) since they wouldn't want their own drivers leaving for the next best Team either ("that's what Contracts are for").....

We'll see how much truth is in that.

Adding onto this
from Sky F1 News' interview with Wolff

"You have to consider Fernando," Mercedes boss Toto Wolff told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview that will be broadcast in Thursday night's F1 Special: Nico The Brave show.


"He is a driver I respect a lot. He combines talent, speed and experience. It's all there.

"But he is in a contract with McLaren-Honda at the moment and we just need to weigh all the other options up."

Those considerations and "options" can be summarised (according to me) as follows:

1. The nr1 goal will be to continue were they left off last(this past )season...WCC and WDC, meaning they WILL need a driver pairing that will be equal or better than that of Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, and hope the car is better or as good as the others. Having the absolute best drivers, eliminates one of those two headaches at least

2. Do we care about our rivals plans and feel bad "disrupting" whatever they do over December by pulling one of their top driver away? Hell No.

I promise you not Wolff, Lauda, or any top brass at Merc or the F1 team gives a flying goose feather about their rivals' preparation over December and how taking an established driver away from them would "hurt" them... not one bit.

They care about their own F1 team, and its development and potential. There is just too much at stake , so I think they know pretty well: "Time to get out the cheque book boys".

So, to me it is pretty clear.

And regarding Nr1 and Nr2 drivers:

"We will maintain the system we have," Wolff assured Sky Sports. "Both drivers will have equal status and equal opportunity to the best of our abilities. We owe it to the fans. You can't have a pecking order."

That makes the only choice : Fernando Alonso

Why not Seb Vet? I don't think he thinks he will be able to beat Ham in the same car over a season. (but that's just my opinion)

[Starscreamer]

Still think Massa is a good choice.
Maybe Alonso to Mercedes and Button back from retire to McLaren

[namao]

Mercedes wants ALO but ALO wants to stay in McLaren Honda so let's get Alonso out of the equation. It won't happen.

Sure Mercedes is now negotiating with Williams for Bottas or Checo. Werhlein their third choice.

[Gerhardsa]

Mercedes wants ALO but ALO wants to stay in McLaren Honda so let's get Alonso out of the equation. It won't happen.

How do you come to that conclusion?
All the evidence and history points to the contrary.

[Just_a_fan]

The only way they'll get Alonso is if there is an appropriatebreak clause in his contract with McLaren. McLaren won't let him go because they need an experienced driver in their car too having lost Button.

[Phil]

I'll just quote myself from the last page, since no one will read it there anyways... ^^

Interview with Toto :
http://www.sport1.de/motorsport/formel1 ... sberg-erbe

For what it's worth.....
- he wants Wehrlein to have one or two more Years at a midfield Team
- they will respect existing Contracts other Drivers have (Vettel....) since they wouldn't want their own drivers leaving for the next best Team either ("that's what Contracts are for").....

We'll see how much truth is in that.

Fair play. Though this is not only about what Toto wants. There are many factors at play here. Mercedes wants exposure and they want the WCC and WDC in the bag. But there are also points to be made that the team wants stability.

I still don't think they'll go for Alonso. What would that get them? A 2 year contract? Would he even sign for just one year? How long would Alonso realistically want to be at the team?

The way I see it - in the last 2 years, it didn't matter who drove both their cars; either would have wrapped up the drivers championship and both would have probably ensured the WCC - easily. 2017, it might not be that easy with the rule change and RedBull, if not also Ferrari, may be a threat to consider.

If Mercedes is not dominant, but still the leading team, a number 1 driver would be beneficial to wrap up the drivers championship. Have two dominant, fast and equal drivers and you risk that both might take points off of each other. See 2007, or even 2010. Two dominant drivers also risk collisions when both of them are fighting each other, potentially costing points in the WCC - see last year Spa or this year Austria as an example. These things are unavoidable.

The only reason why I see them going with Alonso, is if they are not completely happy with Hamilton's work ethics or his commitment. In that case, signing Alonso or another fast and proven winner might not be such a bad idea...

I still think the management would favor Vettel over Alonso. Vettel at Ferrari is probably a bigger threat to Mercedes, than Alonso at McLaren. Better to have them driving for you in that case then for the opposition.

[Gerhardsa]

They didn't lose Button really. He is still reserve driver isn't he?

I am sure I read somewhere about a 23mil buyout clause for Alonso. Cant remember where though.

And, there is always ways to get out of a contract, no matter how "tight" it might appear.

[Thunder]

In my book they should go for a solid Nr. 2 Driver. The next Barrichello of the Schumi Era. Good for WDC, good for WCC and good to keep Hamilton happy.

Someone like Bottas, Perez, Hulk or Grosjean.

Fernando and Lewis would be a risky pairing if the W08 is not dominating.

[Gerhardsa]

Dunno how much any of these guys would like to be considered nr2, just to get beaten to a pulp over the next couple of years. Even if it is a Merc seat.

This nr1 and nr2 driver thing you guys are throwing around. I just don't buy it . I mean, who is going to be (As things look now) Mercs biggest rivals next year?
Red Bull...

There is no nr1 or nr 2 there, so the points off each other arguments goes directly against how the main rival is approaching things.

Im not saying its the wrong approach, (hell its been proven to work more often than not), I just think with so many unknowns going into a big regulation overhall, you need to tie down the strongest possible driver pairing to match RBR and Ferrari, because when things are tight at the top, you will need every point.

And lets not kid ourselves. To Merc, WCC is 1st priority, then the WDC

[Shakeman]

Alonso - Hamilton Part Deux would be box office but I cannot believe Merc would detonate this particular bomb inside their F1 setup. It would be Bahrain 2014 every single race but with much more contact.

As a fan it would be great viewing but Merc would be barking mad to go there.

[alexx_88]

Then again, Mercedes are in it for the marketing value that F1 brings. A total Hamilton walk-over which, let's be honest, has all the chances of happening with Merc leading the field again in 2017, would severely diminish that championship's value. Putting anything than a top driver in the other seat would have that effect. How many people would watch a replay of the Schumacher years? Beyond Hamilton fans, not that many.