Probably just fed up with the whole Mercedes model, say one thing do another. Trying to please everyone which just results in annoying everyone with fakeness. Or it could all be made up and he's staying!
I wouldn't be surprised if Bernie aided the massa return. He wanted a Brazilian still on the grid and Nasr hasn't made the grade. It also keeps an F1 investor Martini happy.
As others have said, Massa is a deeply uninspiring choice. Yes he'll be the solid baseline for development work, but really how much use is that if he's going to be giving up a couple of tenths per lap in skill? Is beating Massa going to be any indication of Stroll's ability? Granted the other experienced options are limited, Buemi is the only name that comes to mind and he left F1 five years ago. Given the crap situation, they'd almost be better off taking every penny they can from Merc to run Wehrlein, writing off next season and going after an experienced driver for 2018, Perez for example. Not an easy sell to the sponsors, but possibly a longer term strategy with more chance of success down the line? I can see Bottas having a decent length spell with Mercedes, but as an unspoken number 2. Bottas probably won't threaten sufficiently to need putting in his place by Mercedes or Hamilton, which suits them all fine. It's a shame as I like Bottas and would like to see him really kick on, ultimately he'll need to show something special on track next year to have a shot at championships though, otherwise he'll be doomed to be a number 2 or mid-field mediocrity for his whole career. He's probably got a 2 season window to shine and change that.
Whatever the "rules" whatever the "formula" we are in for another year of phoney sport. Please Bernie piss off or die. Only when the teams can develop their cars without restraint, "points" systems, or penalties for engineering failures, will we ever see who is the best. Even then, the best driver is usually the one in the "best" car. The "best car" usually wins the money, whoever drives it. Lewis, good as he is, wilts under pressure. He's a classic flat track bully, best car, preferential treatment from his team, yet whinges like a banshee when his "reliability" fails. Has it occurred that his driving technique contributes to his reliability, or is it easier to blame someone else? Hamilton had a car that no one else could match. Every race he was in the best car, yet he didn't win even race.Why? Because he is not the best driver. With no pressure he's a world beater. Under pressure he folds. Rosberg out thought, outmanoeuvred, outsmarted and outdrove Hamilton whenever he needed to. Hamilton imploded, overextended, underperformed and downright cheated every time he was put under pressure. He doesn't do pressure very well. Lewis is at a crossroads. Bottas will really expose him, he has nothing to lose, Hamilton has everything to lose. His diamond earrings suggest he believes his own hype. So watch for the dummy spitting from Hamilton to start immediately. Riccardo is at least Hamiltons equal, and with a car of equal performance, will walk all over Hamilton. He's modest , talented and not an egomaniac. Hamilton is classic narcissist, and will be so exposed sooner rather than later.
While there's a couple of fair points in here, most of this has been disproved over the years. He is actually one of the few drivers to really excel in a car that's not the best, hence his record of having won races in every year he has been in the sport, and he certainly hasn't had the best car every year. How do you get to be in the best car exactly? Funny how while not all the best drivers are in the best cars, the best car almost invariably has the best driver in it. Hamilton lost races and the the title this year for three reasons 1) Rosberg stepped up his game considerably, the effort involved led him to subsequently retire. 2) Mechanical problems. There is no evidence any of the mechanical issues were due to Hamilton's driving style. Engines are operating now so within their limits that a driver should not be able to break one. 3) Hamilton was sub-par mid-season. Maybe not enough hunger after 3 WDCs. He came back strongly late season though and will be extremely motivated next year. As for Ricciardo, yes I'd love to see him in a top car, and there is a strong possibility he will have one next year. He will have to beat his team-mate too, which won't be easy. Better than Hamilton? We don't know yet, do we. Who among us would not want to see him, Hamilton, Verstappen, Vettel and Alonso being in a position to compete?
What a load of crap. Seriously, can't believe you took the time to write that. Each and every one of your assertions is open to question. If I have time over Xmas and am so bored I have nothing to do I will respond in full. Maybe one member of the forum could take up one point individually?
Ok. Unfortunately Bernie made a deal with the Gods to never die and always be in charge of F1. I can assure you it was a good deal in his favour. The only Con is he will be forever damned by the F1 fan, but lucky for him he has never come across one... Merry Christmas!
General consensus that testing is going to hurt the drivers more than ever, these 2017 machines seem serious business.
So Massa looks confirmed at Williams which obviously means Bottas to Merc. Pascal has signed for Sauber which I find strange given the differing engines, although I'm pretty sure they are running last years spec. I'm assuming the Manor seats will just be the highest bidders, which is a shame because they have been making progress.
I think Massas return taints him a little bit. That brilliant reception at Interlagos was the dignified way to go out for one of F1s good guys. He appears desperate now IMO.
yeah, I thought the Wehrlein move a bit strange too, maybe sauber have agreed to install Mercedes engines when they become ****. As to manor, how many drivers are on 'works-team scholarships' that could be ready for a test? you never know, the next person who sits in it could be another Max.
There a,ways hope and you would like to think so. I just worry that the engine suppliers will hinder certain drivers due to conflict of interests.
