Official 2016 Driver's Silly Season Thread; who'll be where?

[suffolk009]

It seems the driver's silly season rumour mill has started. There's AFAIK not a single fact out there. But plenty of rumours about. Thought it'd be nice to have a separate thread - keep it out of the way of Dr Z's excellent race threads.

Rosberg's contract is up for renewal, rumours are that he wants big pay and a multi-year contract. Apparently Merc aren't offering either. Berger is negotiating for him.

Raikkonen's contract is up for renewal, Ferrari are supposedly making happy noises about keeping him. You can bet they're talking to everyone in the paddock. Bottas and Grosjean are most talked about.

Reb Bull seems closed.

The most widely expected change to happen is Button out of McLaren, Stoffel in. Where does that leave Button? Moving to Williams? WEC? Top Gear?

Torro Rosso, who've they got in their pipeline?

Can Massa really spend another year in F1?

So much speculation, so little fact. All tittle-tattle, gossip and misdirection is welcome!

[suffolk009]

cgt2 said:

If I were the MB Board I would seriously question paying millions for Rosberg and slot in a relatively inexpensive young charger who has shown promise. RB probably has him locked in but someone like Sainz would be great. Verstappen/Hamilton would have been a very exciting pair but Merc and Ferrari dropped the ball with that one (and MB had him very close to signing in 2014 as a reserve).

I'm pretty sure that Wherlein is the Mercedes protégé and next driver in waiting. Completely agree about Rosberg though.

[suffolk009]

thegreenhell said:

If Merc want someone for just one year until Werhlein matures, then I'd love to see Button get in there and steal it from Rosberg by offering his services cheaply for a swansong season.

I like the way you're thinking. Two hopes though.....

[suffolk009]

I do like the idea of Allison and Raikkonen back at Enstone. Story below on Renault's apparent offer.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/124734

[suffolk009]

I suspect Merc don't want NR for another two years. Sky reporting that NR wanted 3, Merc 1, and they speculated that they had all probably settled on two.

If a two yr deal has not being confirmed by Merc, perhaps it's been leaked by NR's negotiating team (Gerhard Berger and Rosberg Snt.!) to try to force Merc's hand.

If I were Merc I'd tell him one yr or pack your backs. It might be a little soon to promote Wherlein - he's not lit up the back end of the grid so far.

[suffolk009]

Button at Williams is certainly possible. He's well liked and is catnip to sponsors.
McLaren won't want to have Alonso and Button retire/both out of contract at the end of 2017. Can't see how Stoffel won't be there next year.
I'm not sure that Massa has another season in F1 ahead of him.

[suffolk009]

thegreenhell said:

Current rumours circulating the bored news desks are Sainz to Renault and Perez to Ferrari.

I really can't see either of those happening.

Last time Perez had a decent run for a couple of races McLaren snapped him up on impulse. Then they realised their mistake.

[suffolk009]

BBC website is reporting that Massa has hinted he has option in F1 next year - but not at Williams.

I think it would be overly generous to think he was set to move further up the grid.

[suffolk009]

^^ that's how I see it at the moment.

[suffolk009]

Did anything get firmed up over the weekend? Did I miss anything?

I think Rosberg and his dad are still negotiating. That might be becoming a little harder.

Kyvat continued his run of bad luck.

[suffolk009]

Sauber have been purchased. So I guess their seats will be going to the highest bidders (3 or 4 of them since Monisha is still running the team). At least for next year.

How are Rosberg's negotiations coming along. Haven't heard anything for ages. Have they reached a hiatus or an impasse?

Lots of speculation that Allison is going to leave Ferrari - it's reported that Marchionne is now sitting in on meetings and micro-managing all that he can.

[suffolk009]

Rumours of Button and Stroll at Williams.

Bottas to Renault? Massa to stay at home.

[suffolk009]

Just seen an official Merc vid of Nico and Toto signing the new contract. Don't know for how long.

[suffolk009]

Will Buxton and others tweeting that Haryanto will be out and Stoffel will be in for the rest of the season.

Great to watch Stoffel and Pascal go wheel to wheel in the same equipment (albeit near the back).

[suffolk009]

James Allison has left Ferrari, effective immediately. Wonder who'll be lucky enough to hire him. My bet is he'll go back to Renault.

[suffolk009]

Massa has just announced his retirement, after 15 years in F1.

I wonder who will be in his seat next year?

[suffolk009]

Seriously? Ferrari are thinking of dropping Raikonnen and hiring Perez?

I doubt it.

[suffolk009]

Just seen some internet gossip (it'd be a stretch to call it news!) that James Allison is headed to Red Bull, to take over from Newey in 2018.

[suffolk009]

Horner in charge? Oh, please no.

I assumed Toto was lining himself up for it.

Maybe Chase Carey is going to do it all.

Who knows.

[suffolk009]

IIRC Pedro Diniz was thought to be one of the richest guys ever to sit in an F1 car (I mean previous to any F1 earnings). My guess is Stroll has just set a new milestone?