Who will replace Nico

[paua]

slipstream 1985 said:

paua said:

Have read this story - was told by Montoya, himself, so likely true!

link?

http://bbs.hupu.com/10990274.html

starts down the page a little.
Cheers

[Bradgate]

Bottas is an obvious choice for Mercedes. He's quick and consistent, and will contribute lots of points to the constructor's championship, but he won't be a threat to Hamilton. No doubt he will also be very well paid to play the Barrichello role.

Williams obviously won't want to lose him, but Mercedes will presumably be able to make them a financial offer they can't refuse

[Vaud]

hora said:

Mick Schumacher.

Too early, he's not that strong a driver (yet) and I can't imagine the strength of character you would need to be in that media spotlight as the son of Michael AND with Michael in the condition he is in.

[VolvoT5]

That would leave Williams screwed though.... run two young drivers and potentially slide down the championship if they make a lot of errors. Nasr being touted as the experienced option but he apparently has no funding now and to be honest he has not looked even as fast as Ericsson. OK he scored points in Brazil but that was as much luck as judgement.

[George29]

Vaud said:

hora said:

Mick Schumacher.

Too early, he's not that strong a driver (yet) and I can't imagine the strength of character you would need to be in that media spotlight as the son of Michael AND with Michael in the condition he is in.

And he has no FIA super license

[BoRED S2upid]

Bradgate said:

Bottas is an obvious choice for Mercedes. He's quick and consistent, and will contribute lots of points to the constructor's championship, but he won't be a threat to Hamilton. No doubt he will also be very well paid to play the Barrichello role.

Williams obviously won't want to lose him, but Mercedes will presumably be able to make them a financial offer they can't refuse

Very much so. Williams have rejected their first offer as you would in any negotiation but frank Williams isn't daft a few million in the bank and cheap engines will do them nicely.

[VolvoT5]

BoRED S2upid said:

Very much so. Williams have rejected their first offer as you would in any negotiation but frank Williams isn't daft a few million in the bank and cheap engines will do them nicely.

If they end up with two inexperienced drivers who are performing below par they could end up 6th or 7th in the constructors which would cost them a lot more than the money they will get for Bottas.

[BoRED S2upid]

VolvoT5 said:

BoRED S2upid said:

Very much so. Williams have rejected their first offer as you would in any negotiation but frank Williams isn't daft a few million in the bank and cheap engines will do them nicely.

If they end up with two inexperienced drivers who are performing below par they could end up 6th or 7th in the constructors which would cost them a lot more than the money they will get for Bottas.

And if they ps off merc by not letting him go long term they could be looking for a new engine supplier. Tricky one to negotiate.

[VolvoT5]

BoRED S2upid said:

And if they ps off merc by not letting him go long term they could be looking for a new engine supplier. Tricky one to negotiate.

Well it will be interesting to see how badly Mercedes want him then. Didn't Williams torpedo Bottas' move to Ferrari these last 2 years by asking for ridiculous buy out fees? I heard something like £20 million.

Maybe Red Bull would let go of Sainz given clearly has huge talent and they have nowhere to promote him...... He is going to waste at Toro Rosso.

[bobbo89]

Maybe we're all looking at this completely wrong and the 2017 Merc seat isnt as desirable as we're all thinking?

Maybe those in the know, know that its a safer bet to stay put?

Surely such a seat would have been filled by now?

[Podie]

I suspect whomever Merc want, is under contract and if it was a quick and simple process the seat would be filled.

Bottas is mentioned a lot. He's under contract to Williams, so Merc might be offering a cheaper engine deal - but that would possibly leave Williams with 2 inexperienced drivers... which they probably wouldn't want.

I suspect there are several moving parts to this puzzle....

[housen]

Podie said:

I suspect whomever Merc want, is under contract and if it was a quick and simple process the seat would be filled.

Bottas is mentioned a lot. He's under contract to Williams, so Merc might be offering a cheaper engine deal - but that would possibly leave Williams with 2 inexperienced drivers... which they probably wouldn't want.

I suspect there are several moving parts to this puzzle....

button

[ZX10R NIN]

I'm saying Sainz he kept Max honest & is experienced in F1, also his contract might be the easiest to break, Bottas could really hurt Williams, a cheap engine deal is no good if you drop down in the constructors championship & the money that brings.

[Vaud]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'm saying Sainz he kept Max honest & is experienced in F1, also his contract might be the easiest to break, Bottas could really hurt Williams, a cheap engine deal is no good if you drop down in the constructors championship & the money that brings.

Depends if Merc waive Paddy Lowe's gardening leave...

Williams will never be No1 while Merc are constructors, but you might see an aspirational shift towards Williams/Force India as 2/3 to try to displace Ferrari/RB?

[Leroy902]

housen said:

Podie said:

I suspect whomever Merc want, is under contract and if it was a quick and simple process the seat would be filled.

Bottas is mentioned a lot. He's under contract to Williams, so Merc might be offering a cheaper engine deal - but that would possibly leave Williams with 2 inexperienced drivers... which they probably wouldn't want.

I suspect there are several moving parts to this puzzle....

button

Nope.

[Jonnny]

I thought engines weren't meant to be so important nest season?

[37chevy]

Jonnny said:

I thought engines weren't meant to be so important nest season?

Maybe not but you're still going to need a decent engine to push through all the extra drag

[rubystone]

BoRED S2upid said:

Very much so. Williams have rejected their first offer as you would in any negotiation but frank Williams isn't daft a few million in the bank and cheap engines will do them nicely.

That story passed me by too. Who's reporting it?

[rubystone]

Vaud said:

Depends if Merc waive Paddy Lowe's gardening leave...

Williams will never be No1 while Merc are constructors, but you might see an aspirational shift towards Williams/Force India as 2/3 to try to displace Ferrari/RB?

By all accounts his 3 year contract is up as at 31/12. So unlikely to be a gardening leave element to it.

[LDN]

rubystone said:

Vaud said:

Depends if Merc waive Paddy Lowe's gardening leave...

Williams will never be No1 while Merc are constructors, but you might see an aspirational shift towards Williams/Force India as 2/3 to try to displace Ferrari/RB?

By all accounts his 3 year contract is up as at 31/12. So unlikely to be a gardening leave element to it.

If Force India and Williams can be at the front of the grid next year; we will be in for a treat; aero bias at least throws up some curveballs; these teams just need an ingenious idea to get an edge.