[Driver] 2018 F1 silly season.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Could Mr Bottas find his way back to Williams in 2018?

Pretty sure he's at Merc until Ocon is ready

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Pretty sure he's at Merc until Ocon is ready

Unless one of the Red Bull drivers become available first.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by djinvicta

Hartley? Didn't he write a fishing book?
Kubica a must. Whether they win or lose with him doesn't matter. It's all about money and sponsors. With him in the car the cameras will never be off him, which is sponsor names on TV screens, which adds to value of advertising space on the cars and loads of money rolling in...So what if they finish 10th in every GP?

I'd take Hartley over Kubica any day.......

[BSchneiderFan]

Remember that Alonso rated Kubica as the best driver on the grid.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Remember that Alonso rated Kubica as the best driver on the grid.

Quite possibly so. But a lot of time and water has passed under the bridge since then......

[GTRMagic]

Kubica v's Di Resta Shootout For Williams Seat

[peebee2]

I had heard maybe Kubica would not test as Stroll vetoed it!

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by peebee2

I had heard maybe Kubica would not test as Stroll vetoed it!

The Strolls' had not allowed the Williams' team to use the two 2014 cars that they are hiring for Lance to test. The Strolls are paying something like $60 million a year for the exclusive use of the two cars including a compliment of exclusive Williams' engineers and personnel plus two dedicated Mercedes' engineers to look after the engines. Under the circumstances, the Strolls felt that Williams had no right to keep one of the cars back in Japan for Kubica to test when they wanted it sent with the other to COTA for Lance's next testing session.

The amount that Stroll senior is paying for this private testing is in addition to any other monies that he or his businesses are paying to Williams.

Williams will be using a third 2014 car, which is not connected to the Strolls, for the back to back tests between Di Resta and Kubica.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

The Strolls' had not allowed the Williams' team to use the two 2014 cars that they are hiring for Lance to test. The Strolls are paying something like $60 million a year for the exclusive use of the two cars including a compliment of exclusive Williams' engineers and personnel plus two dedicated Mercedes' engineers to look after the engines. Under the circumstances, the Strolls felt that Williams had no right to keep one of the cars back in Japan for Kubica to test when they wanted it sent with the other to COTA for Lance's next testing session.

The amount that Stroll senior is paying for this private testing is in addition to any other monies that he or his businesses are paying to Williams.

Williams will be using a third 2014 car, which is not connected to the Strolls, for the back to back tests between Di Resta and Kubica.

Blimey! (On a number of levels).
1. That the Stroll family are paying so much for this.
2. How elaborate this additional tasting is with two cars and a number of dedicated & specialist engineers are involved (But this makes the cost more understandable).
3. That Williams have another 2014 car that is in a fully runnable condition...

[S griffin]

Wehrlein is also in the frame, which IMHO is the most sensible solution for them

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Wehrlein is also in the frame, which IMHO is the most sensible solution for them

I didn't think he was old enough for Martini?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

I didn't think he was old enough for Martini?

Ho, ho ,ho!

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Wehrlein is also in the frame, which IMHO is the most sensible solution for them

Agree. Wehrlein would be good for Williams. A rising star with some good speed.

But.... for one, as mentioned, he's not old enough for the primary sponsors deal with William. Two, Stroll Snr will not like a 'young gun' beating his 'young gun'. Hence why the Strolls want an experienced driver - so that Lance wouldn't look so bad when he get's beaten, and looks like a champion when he does beat the experienced driver. Stroll tried hard to get Alonso into a Williams for the same reason.

[BSchneiderFan]

Do we know if the Martini stipulation for an over-25 partner for Stroll is an absolute rule, or just a preference?

In any event, I hope they take a chance on Kubica, and I hope the old magic is still there.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Do we know if the Martini stipulation for an over-25 partner for Stroll is an absolute rule, or just a preference?

In any event, I hope they take a chance on Kubica, and I hope the old magic is still there.

From the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA):

'Ads which feature alcohol are prohibited from showing in a significant role people who are, or appear to be, under the age of 25.'

[S griffin]

Thing is though it's a global sport, so would it be exempt?

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Thing is though it's a global sport, so would it be exempt?

From drivers press conference in Japan. Note the team shirts of the Williams drivers.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Thing is though it's a global sport, so would it be exempt?

In general, advertisements on tv coverage are based on the legality of the country of origin for the broadcast. Hence those events in countries where it is banned entirely will not have any alcohol sponsorship (the same was true back in the tobacco days).

And given that the age restriction of 25 is common to a number of countries, then Martini need someone over that age to promote their brand in most (if not all) countries that the sport visits.

Also remember, the publicity is not just that on the tv coverage - a lot of local events are held at each event where the brands will promote themselves.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

From drivers press conference in Japan. Note the team shirts of the Williams drivers.

The difference in team shirts is nothing to do with Martini specifically in this case.

In Japan the legal drinking age is 20, Stroll is still 18 so can't be seen wearing anything alcohol related.

His car may well be in the unbranded paint scheme.

[S griffin]

And isn't in Russia alcohol sponsorship is banned?

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Yes, the Williams cars ran without Martini branding in Sochi.

[F1Guy]

Goodbye Palmer! Hope this is the last we'll see of you in F1.

Sainz takes over from Austin.
https://www.renaultsport.com/renault...e.html?lang=fr


Kvyat and Gasly will drive for STR from Austin onwards.
http://www.scuderiatororosso.com/art...er-japanese-gp

[BSchneiderFan]

That's a rather spiteful tone to take.

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Kvyat and Gasly will drive for STR from Austin onwards.
http://www.scuderiatororosso.com/art...er-japanese-gp

Kvyat only confirmed for Austin in that link?

Not sure who else they'd get for the rest of the season of course, but Kvyat not a definite yet.

[peebee2]

Probably Daniil but Maybe Galael could pay enough for the FIA to award him a licence?

Or Kubica, Palmer, Gio all possible.