F1 2017 SEASON: NEWS - RUMOURS

I think Hulkenberg's chances of moving into a top 6 seat are gone. A move to a team for more money guaranteed and the possibility of it becoming a race winning seat is the best he can hope for and so this move makes sense.

 

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/126636/aero-gains-with-2017-regulations-taggering

Fastest F1 cars ever?

 

Same for Bottas IMO. Only driver that will be considered is Perez.

 

Hulk has left FI!

Multi year deal with Renault to be announced



Nico Hulkenberg has agreed a deal to drive for the Renault Formula 1 team from 2017.

It is understood Hulkenberg has signed a two-year contract to cover the 2017 and '18 seasons, with an option to extend the deal into a third season in '19.

There is a final hurdle that remains to be cleared, with Hulkenberg's current team Force India needing to agree to release the German.

That should be a formality as deputy team principal Bob Fernley has previously suggested he would not stand in Hulkenberg's way.

please log in to view this image

UPDATE: Force India releases Hulkenberg for 2017

The move brings to an end Hulkenberg's second spell with Force India, with a season at Sauber in 2013 sandwiching a two-year stint in 2011 and '12 and his current three-season run from 2014.

It means Renault now has just one remaining seat available for 2017, with a number of names in the frame, including current drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer.

please log in to view this image

Former reserve Esteban Ocon, currently with Manor, is also in the running, but it is believed the 20-year-old will also now become a target for Force India to replace Hulkenberg.

Force India would appear to have the upper hand bearing in mind Ocon is a Mercedes junior, and the Silverstone-based marque receives its engine supply from the German manufacturer.

Ocon joined Manor during the summer break from Renault, where he was serving as a reserve, with the backmarker team receiving a further discount on its engines from Mercedes having signed fellow Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein at the start of the year.

Another option for Renault is Valtteri Bottas, who has started discussions with the French manufacturer as a plan B should Williams fail to take up the option on his contract, although it is expected to do so in the coming weeks.

 

Hulkenberg career, 2010 Williams, 2011-2012 Force India, 2013 Sauber, 2014-2016 Force India, 2017-2018 Renault... Injustice if you ask me. Deserves a win or two, hopefully Renault remember how to be world champions again.

Magnussen will be retained imo, Wehrlein and Perez at FI. Ocon to take another year at Manor. Palmer out of a seat.

 

I think Hamilton rumours will start making some ground as well, 2017 Mercedes but after that? Ferrari?

 

WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE

• MERCEDES; HAMILTON+ ROSBERG
• FERRARI; VETTEL+ RAIKKONEN
• REDBULL; RICCIARDO + VERSTAPPEN
• WILLIAMS; BOTTAS +
• FORCE INDIA; PEREZ +
• TORO ROSSO; SAINZ +
• RENAULT; HULKENBERG +
• MCLAREN ALONSO + VANDOORNE
• HAAS;
• SAUBER; ERICSSON +
• MANOR MERCEDES;
  
  Updated from what we know.

 

Ocon to FI, not Wehrlein? Does that imply Wehrlein to be placed at Williams?

Who wins out of that?

 

I don't know why Ocon would get such a fast promotion, my money is on Bottas and Stroll.

 

Bulkenberg has entered the big bucks. Good on him.

 

I've a sneaking suspicion Grosjean will either end up at Force India or back at Renault.

 

Bottas is supposedly in awkward negotiations with Williams. He wants a single year contract as there's so many seats opening up in 2018, Williams want him to sign for two years.

Stroll to get the second Williams seat is the latest rumour I've read.

 

He has still to score a podium, whereas others in the same team have.

Has looked no better than Perez for the last few years so nothing there to back up the hype he had, which all revolved around Brazil 2010. Hasn't really done much since then results wise to justify a top drive.

I can't salivate about him in the way some do. He's better than a lot of drivers on the grid, but he certainly isn't top drawer. Maybe he'll be a late bloomer but I think Renault his is last chance and even then he is relying on them turning around a difficult few years and at the very least reverse their slide down the grid.

 

I'd love for Hamilton to drive for Ferrari... If they pull their head out of their backside and get Ross back. I can dream, right?

I'm not sure why, but I just don't have any affection for Mercedes as a team. Ferrari on the other hand...

 

Smithers thanks for bringing these reclusive tweets and rumours to light. Well appreciated. As for the story... that would be interesting. Who would have made the better decision in this swap?

 

KMag to Andretti after he turned down the seat last year.

 

Could well be..