Please Red Bull... please be good. Otherwise we're waiting for 2018 already. Also Massa shouldn't be coming back. He was bad last season, but was able to leave with some dignity. Now he's clinging on and was obviously only retiring because Williams were going to boot him anyway. Feels more like the end of Barrichello's career.
Seems a bit weird after all the farewells. Merc should have just have snagged Button instead of messing about getting Bottas.
It appears the guy taking a "sabbatical" was far more committed to leaving F1 than the guy "retiring".
Blimey, F1 disappoints me to whole new levels. I think it's an utter embarrassment from Massa- he got the perfect ovation at Interlagos and let's be frank about him- he's always been marginally short of top class, although did drive superbly in 2008. He is basically now crawling back, which he deserves better than. Surely there were better options available. As for Bottas, he's one massive dose of bang average Formula 1 driver. He's done nothing notable in my view. It's interesting what Red Bull have planned long term. What do they expect to do with Sainz when Verstappen and Ricciardo are there? I personally think one of the latter two will leave RBR (eventually) before Sainz does. My long-term view involves Ricciardo or Hamilton ending up at McLaren (Ricciardo would be a bright new character in a McLaren refresh and RBR seem in love with Max and Sainz), as Hamilton i doubt will end his career with Mercedes. The only other way things might spice up is if Vettel vacated Ferrari and left Max or Lewis to go there? But that's all further down the line. Alonso or Button was probably the short term answer. Bottas is a bizarre one and I wonder if they'll give him a short term deal and Williams a buy back option?
I completely agree with your comment ref Massa. Bottas Was very good , but has tailed off in recent years. Perhaps a new team will re-ignite his career? I hope so.
Maybe he wants more guards of honour down the pit-lane, though it's said he only retired because he'd lost his seat and couldn't get in any other car. As to Williams, they must have a driver over 25 for Martini, he's someone they know and someone who can act as a good mentor for Stroll. the question is, if Stroll tears him a new one, how long will he last? I'd be interested to know what the ins-and-outs of Bottas release deal is though, I'd've tried to get something similar to the Ferrari/Hass deal if I were Clair Williams, rather than just a monetary award. As to Bottas himself, well, I have never been impressed by Rosberg, he looked fast on an empty track. I think Bottas is better, though I cannot fault Rosberg this year, a role model for kids, he achieved through sheer hard-work and determination when the gulf in talent was so vast. It may take Bottas a few races to adapt, and he's going to be up against a fired-up team-mate, the onl;y question is, will Merc be up there? Lots of new rules, they may end up building a dog.
Look guys, for those suggesting the Bottas move is bad and we may as well look forward to 2018, can I suggest you don't bother watching F1 in 2017 and stop clogging up the pages on this forum with doom and gloom before a wheel in 2017 has even been turned? Who did you expect to partner Hamilton next year? There is no one out there not tied into a big contract who Merc could have signed. For al the daydreamers crying out for Alonso, how old is this guy now. If he could only match Hamilton in 2007, what makes you think he still has it in him 10 years later to do the same? Motivation may not be an issue, but he's not a young driver anymore. Bottas is okay. A perfectly decent racing driver stuck in a team which doesn't have the money to develop the car. He's generally been the lead driver over Massa and is happy to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in from time to time. I'd personally have preferred a younger driver (Werheim?) to move up the grid, but hey-ho. Live in hope that RBR, Ferrari and Mercedes all come out with relatively equal cars with the new rules before deciding that 2017 is going to be crap just because it is feared it will be a Hamilton-fest on the track.
Honda have caught up a bit this year, just can't see them having a powerplant that can get close to the others next year, even with developments being open now.
There hasn't been two cars capable of winning at any one time since the first half of 2013. Coming up to 4 years ago now. We should certainly hope, but currently the default is dominance. Hence why it's pretty understandable to think Hamilton having a competitive teammate is important. Winter testing will be very revealing this year. He was never a practical choice, but I don't think Alonso being 35 can be used as evidence on a decline on it's own. He had an excellent 2017. Certainly more impressive than Bottas.
I felt that Verstappen aside, not many drivers had a fantastic 2016. All made mistakes, seemed off the pace or disinterested at times. Maybe they all were depressed by Merc so gave up too early? Hopefully we'll see drivers looking up for it again in 2017, at least up until the cars hit the testing circuits and the excuses start again.............
I get the feeling that Red Bull will return to being the team to beat next season. The new rules swing massively towards the importance of aero, Red Bulls strongest skill. If Bottas does struggle against Hamilton then at least Hamilton will have team preference to take a fight to Red Bull, whose drivers will probably be battling lots. A pipe dream?
yeah, I think all three of the other PCU manufacturers will make more gains than Mercedes performance wise, and RBR don;t need Renault to make much more to have them properly competitive rather than in just the odd anomalous race. I don;t know about Ferrari, the looked to be competitive early on, a few bad calls and a few incidents with kvyat really seemed to knock the wind out of their sails and then their age old problem of infighting and the blame culture returned. they have to come out of the blocks or I think they'll implode again. would love to see a 2012 again
Interesting... I'm suprised Paddy is leaving Merc, I can't believe he will be paid anymore or have more success with another team? I wonder if the Merc management structure has tensions in it?
Scape goat for #teamordersgate? Maybe Lewis has been stamping his feet and they decided they'd rather keep Lewis than Paddy?
