[Rumours] 2016 Driver Silly Season & Beyond

[chunterer]

Both Kyvat & Magnussen helped their causes immensly in Singapore.

[gert]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Presumably Slim would rename Force India? It's been through a lot of name changes over the last ten years or so. They're a frustrating squad; often seem on the cusp of a big breakthrough but never quite making it. I still find it amazing that Hülkenberg has never stood on the podium.

Frankly, I think 5th last year and 4th of 5th this year is pretty much the max you could ask of them.

[S griffin]

They're a bit like Sauber used to be, a midfield team who occasionally mixed it with the big boys

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by S griffin

They're a bit like Sauber used to be, a midfield team who occasionally mixed it with the big boys

Force India are consistently better than independent Sauber ever were. The BMW days brought them into play regularly as the 3rd or 4th best team though.

Before that I can only recall the early part of their debut season in '93 with Lehto and then a few races in '95 with HHF where they remotely threatened the top order.

[S griffin]

2001-2 they were fourth and fifth, remember the year Nick and Kimi were consistently up there in 01

[BSchneiderFan]

Triumph of hope over expectation? http://www.autosport.com/news/report...teams-for-2017

If I were Williams or Force India, I don't think Ericsson would be on my radar. Besides, aren't his backers tied up in the new ownership of Sauber?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by S griffin

2001-2 they were fourth and fifth, remember the year Nick and Kimi were consistently up there in 01

Blimey were they?! I don't recall them being regular challengers in those years no!

2001 was a weird one. Ferrari Williams and Mclaren were quite far clear with ocassional moments for Jordan but don't recall Saubers doing that well.

[BSchneiderFan]

Autosport reporting today that Lance Stroll is close to a Williams deal for next year. Huge gamble for everyone concerned.

[chunterer]

Some weird negotiations going on at Force India. Perez saying he'll retire if things aren't sorted out by next weekend and Hulk is another name linked to Enstone!

Wonder if the Checo hold up is something to do with his backers negotiating to take the team over?

[cameronpoe]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Autosport reporting today that Lance Stroll is close to a Williams deal for next year. Huge gamble for everyone concerned.

Why is it a gamble, the team are in profit due to a large up front payment from the Stroll family, it is crystal clear they have an input into his future team mate as well hence the set back when Button stayed at Mclaren.
He has been developed to be an F1 driver and he will be just okay like the majority of them currently are so there is no Gamble just a glimpse of the reality of modern single seater motorsport, unfortunately this sledge hammer approach from Stroll and other very wealthy parents is destroying the sport at its grass roots but only old guys like me care, the reporting on this in the UK specialist motor sport press is just dreadfull and smacks more of Fanzine than journalism.

I was a huge F1 fan in the 70s and 80s to see this happen to Frank Williams team in the autumn of his years is a great shame.

On another point , back in the 70,s and 80,s guys made it to F1 and went to live in Monaco, now most of the guys coming through towards F1 went to School there! Changing times I know but symptomatic of a sport that is basically well on the way to devouring itself!

[bella]

why's it a great shame for it to be happening to williams? a wealthy investor having a drive is nothing new in the slightest.

i'm more worried about the effect that these guys are having on the junior formulae below, but i suppose that's harder for people to notice.

[cds_uk]

I am with Bella on this, you can hardly blame Lance, or his dad for that matter, if they want to throw all sorts of money at his career/hobby, but the Euro F3 championship this year and Italian F4 championship before it have been nothing short of farcical to watch and that just can't be right, i dare say he will do a competent job in F1 but there is absolutely no way in the world that he is anything more than a very well backed journeyman driver and the sooner he is reported as such in the general media the better as far as i am concerned.

[Peter Mallett]

Continuing that theme, if these guys were given the opportunity and support in the lower formula, as it used to be, the progression of those with talent would be noticed. As it is the current top tier has had very little in the way of track experience or indeed public interaction.

It's all part of the whole motorsport story which is sad. The more they make it a play station discipline, the less we will see of talent and the more we will see of pay drivers.

To put it in context, we would often see drivers running a year old chassis in a gp. However they never bothered the top tier. But they did need to be able to drive. On the other hand Niki Lauda, among others, borrowed money from the banks to get on the grid. They were pay drivers too but of a different type. No family support just talent and belief. They got to the top by proving themselves in the lower formulae.

I think in single seaters all of that has now been sacrificed on the altar of money. So we've basically lost Formula 3, Formula Ford is hardly reported etc. and Formula 1 cars are so complicated that the drivers are more operators. All seems a bit daft to me.

As to Williams, they've always taken on pay drivers it's just that as I said above, they used to be talented and proven, now they've just got money.

[BSchneiderFan]

Channel 4 and Autosport are reporting that Pérez will be staying at Force India. Wonder if Renault's dithering cost them a shot at him.

[BSchneiderFan]

Well, Lance Stroll has done what was required and won the European F3 title with races to spare. Grove next?

[wolfhound]

It seems that Nico Hulkenberg will be on his way to Renault. That might open up the mid field driver market but who do Force India go for?

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/126605

[Hawkwood]

It may depend somewhat on whether Mercedes want Wehrlein to move up the grid.

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

It may depend somewhat on whether Mercedes want Wehrlein to move up the grid.

Do Mercedes want to get money for their motors or give them for reduced cost and give a junior driver mileage in a midfield team?

Could FI go with a driver who has some talent and money?
After all to stay in the top half of the grid needs lots of $$$$$$$$

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Do Mercedes want to get money for their motors or give them for reduced cost and give a junior driver mileage in a midfield team?

Exactly, it's a fine balancing act.
It would depend on how much Mercedes see Wehrlein as their next star.
If they see him as the next star driver then they have to move him up the grid.
There's only so much that can be learned by running at the back and maybe occasionally racing other drivers.
Force India practically guarantees a shot at the points each race.

[BSchneiderFan]

If - and it's a big if - Hülkenberg is Renault-bound, then it makes sense for Mercedes to move Wehrlein to Force India. Has he done enough at Manor to justify the promotion? If I'm honest, I'm sceptical; he hasn't dominated Haryanto or Ocon as I'd have expected him to. Perhaps Ocon gets the nod instead?

[Mixer]

I think MB need to give Wehrlein mileage for when Lewis leaves to start his rap career and/or to join the Kardashians

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

If - and it's a big if - Hülkenberg is Renault-bound

It would be good for Renault and Huelkenberg would jump at the chance.

[BSchneiderFan]

I'm still in two minds as to whether drivers are Renault's problem. Sure, Magnussen and Palmer lack experience, which must be hurting the team's progress, but both have dragged a pretty bad car to points finishes and are learning all the time. Would Hülkenberg be transformative for Renault?

[cds_uk]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

I'm still in two minds as to whether drivers are Renault's problem. Sure, Magnussen and Palmer lack experience, which must be hurting the team's progress, but both have dragged a pretty bad car to points finishes and are learning all the time. Would Hülkenberg be transformative for Renault?

I have to say, you are absolutely spot on there BSF, i rate Hulk very highly indeed but then again Magnussen and Palmer are hardly complete mugs are they.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

...Would Hülkenberg be transformative for Renault?

in terms of Renault's ability to attract and hire factory and team staff i would think that having Hulk, Bottas, or Perez (who is no longer available anyways) is a much stronger indicator that the manu is prepared to spend money in an effort to move forward.

so from an organizational view point, i think Hulk would be transformative.

one can only speculate that if thay had made a better driver decision last year and/or made their driver selections earlier this year, then they would be in a much stronger position staff wise now.