F1 2015/16 Silly season predictathon!

[richhamer]

Mercedes: Rosberg & Hamilton
Ferrari: Vettel & Bottas
Williams: Massa & Hulkenburg
Red Bull: Riccardo & Kyvat
Force India: Perez & Wherlein
Lotus/Enstone: Grosjean & Palmer
Torro Rosso/Faenza: Verstappen & Sainz
Sauber: Ericsson & Nasr
McLaren: Alonso & Button
Manor: Stevens & Vandoorne
Haas: Marciello & Rossi

[btcc123]

VolvoT5 said:

Redlake27 said:

I still don't get why Ferrari would pay 15M to release Bottas a year early. A one year deal for Hulkenberg, Grosjean or even Kimi would make more sense.

Neither do I...... but I don't see Grosjean or Hulkenberg wanting to risk a 1 year deal either. Kimi is the obvious choice, a couple more decent weekends like the one just gone and they will keep him...... then they can really look around at what is on offer for 2017.

Yes Kimi had a great weekend where did he finish,oh he retired.Another couple weekends like that he will be retired from F1.

[VolvoT5]

btcc123 said:

Yes Kimi had a great weekend where did he finish,oh he retired.Another couple weekends like that he will be retired from F1.

Yes but not his fault the car packed up, up until that point he was doing exactly what Ferrari would ideally want from him...

[eccles]

VolvoT5 said:

btcc123 said:

Yes Kimi had a great weekend where did he finish,oh he retired.Another couple weekends like that he will be retired from F1.

Yes but not his fault the car packed up, up until that point he was doing exactly what Ferrari would ideally want from him...

Kimi always seems to perk up and pay attention when his job is on the line.

[andy-xr]

Mercedes: Hamilton / Bottas
Ferrari: Vettel & Rosberg
Williams: Massa & Hulkenburg
Red Bull: Riccardo & Kyvyvyvat
Force India: Perez & Button
Lotus/Enstone: Grosjean & Maldonado
Torro Rosso/Faenza: Verstappen & Sainz
Sauber: Ericsson & Nasr
McLaren: Alonso & Alonso
Manor: Didnt arrive in time
Haas: Hulkenberg + someone, maybe Raikkonen

[ajprice]

A lot of rumour articles over the last week saying Ferrari are looking at Verstappen to replace Raikkonen, if not 2016 then 2017. Put that together with Renault having their own team and telling Red Bull to sod off, Red Bull/Toro Rosso get Ferrari engines, Max moves over to the red cars. Job done! 2016 might be a push, 2017 sounds possible, in a silly season sort of way .

[VolvoT5]

ajprice said:

A lot of rumour articles over the last week saying Ferrari are looking at Verstappen to replace Raikkonen, if not 2016 then 2017. Put that together with Renault having their own team and telling Red Bull to sod off, Red Bull/Toro Rosso get Ferrari engines, Max moves over to the red cars. Job done! 2016 might be a push, 2017 sounds possible, in a silly season sort of way .

I would like to see Verstappen in a top car, I think he would be very exciting to watch and really stick a rocket up the backside of the established stars.

My gut feeling is Bottas hasn't done enough this year and/or Ferrari don't want to pay Williams to release him, therefore Raikkonen stays for 2016 and Ferrari will reassess their options for 2017 - Ricciardo, Bottas and Verstappen could all be available by then.

[RogerExplosion]

<pedantic> It's Toro Rosso! </pedantic>

[VolvoT5]

VolvoT5 said:

My gut feeling is Bottas hasn't done enough this year and/or Ferrari don't want to pay Williams to release him,

And just to prove my point Ferrari confirm Raikkonen. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/33993734

[tobinen]

Assuming that means Bottas stays put, it's not looking good for Button, is it?

[suffolk009]

Alonso to move to Red Bull Mercedes?

It might even be the second best car on the grid in 2016.

[VolvoT5]

suffolk009 said:

Alonso to move to Red Bull Mercedes?

It might even be the second best car on the grid in 2016.

Why would they want Alonso? They already have two good drivers that fit into the team brand better than Fernando.

[andy-xr]

I'd imagine based on yesterdays interview of JB not really enjoying F1 and spending his time just driving round comments that he's looking at how to lay a decent fire to the bridge that'd give the best outcome all round for him and the team. Cant see him in a McLaren next year if I'm honest, it's kind of funny that he'd get further through a race in a Sauber but on less money.

[Vaud]

VolvoT5 said:

Why would they want Alonso? They already have two good drivers that fit into the team brand better than Fernando.

Quite. And performing pretty well given the car. They have a culture of promoting young drivers, they don't need an Alonso.

[suffolk009]

Vaud said:

Quite. And performing pretty well given the car. They have a culture of promoting young drivers, they don't need an Alonso.

Alonso dismissed it with a comment about a friend needing some Honda engines for a boat.

I can't imagine RB would want him either.

[London424]

Nico Hulkenberg has signed a new 2 year deal.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/34115410

[Speed Badger]

Mercedes: Hamilton & Rosberg
Ferrari: Vettel & Raikkonen
Williams: Massa & Bottas
Red Bull: Riccardo & Kvyat
Force India: Perez & Hulkenberg
Lotus/Enstone: Grosjean & Palmer
Toro Rosso/Faenza: Verstappen & Sainz
Sauber: Ericsson & Nasr
McLaren: Alonso & Vandoorne
Manor: Stevens & Marciello
Haas: Vergne & Rossi

[ajprice]

Looks like Grosjean is going to Haas for next year.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120977

[Muzzer79]

Bit easier at this time of year:

Mercedes: Hamilton & Rosberg
Ferrari: Vettel & Raikkonen
Williams: Massa & Bottas
Red Bull: Riccardo & Kvyat
Force India: Perez & Hulkenberg
Lotus/Enstone: Vergne & Maldonado
Toro Rosso/Faenza: Verstappen & Sainz
Sauber: Ericsson & Nasr
McLaren: Alonso & Button
Manor: Wehrlein & Rossi
Haas: Grosjean & Gutierrez

[MartG]

Red Bull and Toro Rosso leave, remaining teams add a 3rd car, Button in 3rd Mercedes, Alonso in 3rd Ferrari