Silly Season 2016/2017

[Goran2812]

Does the person that sits in his car next year have the number 1 on it, or do we have a grid without the number 1 next year? sorry if it's a stupid question...

[ThommyH]

Does the person that sits in his car next year have the number 1 on it, or do we have a grid without the number 1 next year? sorry if it's a stupid question...

No number 1 car next season...

[Shakeman]

Does the person that sits in his car next year have the number 1 on it, or do we have a grid without the number 1 next year? sorry if it's a stupid question...

They'll use their own registered number, they won't be using '0' again.

[George-Jung]

There can be only one real candidate for this seat... and that has to be Alonso.

[ScottB]

There can be only one real candidate for this seat... and that has to be Alonso.

He's got no chance. Why would Mclaren release him?

[George-Jung]

There can be only one real candidate for this seat... and that has to be Alonso.

He's got no chance. Why would Mclaren release him?

Probably a performance clause in the contract?

[F1Krof]

You didn't hear from me, it's gonna be Bottas. (Close source)

[godlameroso]

So then Stroll and Wherlein? @ williams?

[godlameroso]

That leaves 3 seats wide open.

[FW17]

I think Nico will quit if he loses and PH will take the seat

WTF

[iotar__]

I think Nico will quit if he loses and PH will take the seat

WTF

"If he loses" so the opposite.

- I don't even want to think about replacements. Let's see if Merc want to win or sell cars and make Hamilton look good.
- According to Mercedes their choices are Alonso and Wehrlein, then Ocon
- if not Button is also available, he tweets a lot and is closing on 40.

[F1Krof]

Deal is almost done. Williams in trouble for replacement, leaving them with two inexperienced drivers if a deal with Merc for Wehrlein is achieved. Announcement next week (wed mos probably). Poor Wehrlein, Williams don't want him.

[f1316]

I really think it'll be Wehrlein. They've been angling to get him in for a while, need to show faith in their young driver program, and it'll likely save them a lot of hassles as I think Lewis will have a consistent edge. If Mercedes still have a sizeable performance advantage, it'll be easy to put all their eggs in the one basket.

I hope I'm wrong - the Alonso idea is the most interesting to me (and Wolf has spoken of him being an option to replace their drivers in the past) - but I think it's much easier all round for Mercedes to go with their home grown guy.

Conservative Germans being conservative.

It´s common sense. Yes, Alonso and Hamilton would push like crazy people, the spectacle for us would be fenomenal but for Mercedes it would be a nightmare to manage.

The only real counter argument I can see is that - presuming they're still clearly the fastest car - an easy championship for Hamilton isn't really that great for their brand. If people just get bored, stop watching and/or desperately want you to lose, it's not great PR.

If they bring about Hamilton/Alonso II then people will love them for it and a close fight between more equally matched drivers (very Senna/Prost in terms of characteristics, if you ask me) could well boost the audience even if one car is dominant.

As I say though, don't think they'll take the chance even if Fernando is available.

[SR71]

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.

[Fifty]

I'll place this here...
Hami will want Alonso because he knows he is washed up and Alonso's skills don't last further than 2-3 corners of hard pushing. All Hami would have to insist on in the contract is that he doesn't have to share set up info and that they each get the new development parts if they want and then he knows Alonso would be sunk.

However Toto, niki and paddy wouldn't touch Alonso with a 10 foot pole.
My bet is a try for ricciardo and if that doesn't work, Ocon the. Weirlin