[Rumours] 2016 Driver Silly Season & Beyond

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Frosty11

I've chosen Vergne because of the Ferrari connections but Haas has said that Gutierrez is in contention. For me I would take Vergne over Gutierrez any day.

On ability it's a no-brainer to take Vergne - for sponsor fit and marketing purposes Gutierrez is probably the better bet. That may well be the harsh reality of the situation.

Originally Posted by Paradise City

Oh and I don't see Pastor moving from Lotus given Lotus current finances.

Agreed - if Lotus don't morph into Renault then Maldonado stays. That means that Palmer will need to find more cash than Grosjean brings if he wants the seat.

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Well they also believe that Nasr is favourite to replace Bottas. Let's find out...

I could see that happening - he has experience of the Williams team from his stint as 3rd/reserve (or whatever they call it this week). He's going to be cheaper than Hulkenburg too (and that will appeal to Williams business sense!).

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

If Hulk leaves FI for Williams, and Palmer ousts Grosjean, then Grosjean to FI?

Biggest 'what if' scenario of the silly season?

[wnut]

At least somebody is finally making sensible decisions at Williams!

Massa to stay for 2016?

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns31453.html

[wolfhound]

Williams seldom change 2 drivers in one year so I can understand their logic.

[S griffin]

That's true. In 93 they had no choice due to Mansell's leaving and Patrese signing for Benetton. 99 was because Villeneuve didn't want to stay and Williams didn't want Frentzen. Same story in 05 with JPM/Ralf. 2010 Rosberg went to Mercedes and they didn't see a future in Nakajima. So they've never done it unless they had no choice or there was more logic

[m355y]

Massa has done well, probably shading Bottas this year. He deserves to stay on.

What a confusing pairing Felipe Nasr and Felipe Massa would be though, Martin Brundl will love that.

[Born Racer]

Speaking of Martin Brundle, I think the Japanese commentator's found Brabham-Yamaha team-mates Brundle and Blundell a handful.

[wolfhound]

Nasr and Erickson are to drive for again Sauber in 2016. That's an early announcement.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120062

It also limits one of the potential future Williams drivers if Bottas goes to Ferrari.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Nasr and Erickson are to drive for again Sauber in 2016. That's an early announcement.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120062

It also limits one of the potential future Williams drivers if Bottas goes to Ferrari.

Yes, but based on last year Sauber could feasibly sign 15 drivers and not race any of them!!

I doubt they'd make that mistake again though.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Good for Sauber to have the finances in place this early on, although I'll only take their line-up as a given in April!

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Good for Sauber to have the finances in place this early on, although I'll only take their line-up as a given in April!

I expect both of those drivers are a significant source of finance.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Yes, but based on last year Sauber could feasibly sign 15 drivers and not race any of them!!

classic Sauber!

[stripedcat]

What about the Williams seat? I think Bottas is safe for now - but Felipe, well, hmmm.

The silly rumour is Jenson Button going back there. Well - it might be better than that McLaren at the moment. I can't see it.

The 2nd Williams seat seems up for grabs.

[Hawkwood]

I'll be honest I can only see Massa and Bottas at Williams in 2016 (unless Bottas jumps to Ferrari of course).

[wnut]

Originally Posted by stripedcat

What about the Williams seat? I think Bottas is safe for now - but Felipe, well, hmmm.

The silly rumour is Jenson Button going back there. Well - it might be better than that McLaren at the moment. I can't see it.

The 2nd Williams seat seems up for grabs.

If either Button or Massa (hopefully plus Rob Smedley now that would be a package) is available, and Haas does not try and pick up one of them, then he is missing a massive opportunity to ramp up his learning curve! Likewise Kimi, if he is out of Ferrari, he should be high on the Haas shopping list.

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

I'll be honest I can only see Massa and Bottas at Williams in 2016 (unless Bottas jumps to Ferrari of course).

Kimi will be at Ferrari next year.....

[ECW Dan Selby]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

Kimi will be at Ferrari next year.....

Anything to back that up?

I really can't see why they'd retain Kimi. He surely isn't worth the price tag. Saying that, would Bottas be worth the millions they're shelling out to buy out of his contract?

Hard to say.

I personally think Hulkenberg is a better choice. More experience, great driver, surely cheaper.

But, apparently they're thinking about their marketing. Sheesh. You'd have thought having two amazing drivers who give you a better chance of winning would be good enough marketing...

Selby

[Formulahistory]

I don't think there will much happen for next season. My guess:

Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton – Nico Rosberg
Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel – Kimi Räikkönen (?)
Williams Mercedes: Valtteri Bottas (?) – Felipe Massa (?)
Red Bull Renault: Daniel Ricciardo – Daniil Kvyat (?)
Force India Mercedes: Sergio Pérez – Nicolas Hülkenberg (?)
Lotus Mercedes: Romain Grosjean – Pastor Maldonado
Sauber Ferrari: Felipe Nasr – Marcus Ericsson
Toro Rosso Renault: Max Verstappen – Carlos Sainz jr. (?)
McLaren Honda: Jenson Button – Fernando Alonso
Manor Honda (? Kevin Magnussen (?) – Stoffel Vandoorne (?)
Haas Ferrari: Esteban Gutiérrez (?) – Alexander Rossi (?)

And a very long assessment about the silly season in German here:
https://michismotors...e-ueberblick-2/

[djinvicta]

Reading the the papers today that Jenson B is off to join Chris Evans at Top Gear..
Retirement then?

[djinvicta]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-Gear-job.html

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by djinvicta

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-Gear-job.html

I think I'll hang on a while until I believe this.
Not only is it in The Daily Mail, but even they are using words like tipped, and 'may'.
All rather tenuous, even by their standards...

[p-matt]

Lazy British journalism at its best. Much like these Button back to Williams rumours Andrew Benson is trotting out

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by p-matt

Lazy British journalism at its best. Much like these Button back to Williams rumours Andrew Benson is trotting out

But, Button back to Williams is far more believable than him becoming a Top Gear presenter!

[bella]

i reckon it's a cover for webber to top gear instead

[wolfhound]

From Button's point of view a move to TG might make a lot of sense. It looks as though the McHonda is going to take more than a couple of years to be competitive. His options for a decent F1 drive are limited. He would also be leaving on his terms as opposed to Ron's. Being on TG would probably allow him to do something like WEC, Goodwood if he so wished with no strings.
I can't see Williams with 2 drivers nearing the end of their careers. If it was Button and Bottas yes but Button and Massa I doubt.