The Official 2018 F1 Silly Season *Contains Speculation*
Discussion
Interestingly in an article on motorsport.com they are now stating Sainz has been 'loaned to Renault from Red Bull' as opposed to him leaving the RB fold altogether.
Gasly seems to think he's potentially in the car from Malaysia but then there's a clash with Super Formula and the GP in Austin so who knows what happens then. Palmer in a Torro Rosso for a single race?
Gasly seems to think he's potentially in the car from Malaysia but then there's a clash with Super Formula and the GP in Austin so who knows what happens then. Palmer in a Torro Rosso for a single race?
I'd prefer Palmer to Massa. I think in Palmer there is a decent driver that has been stymied by bad luck, and being psychologically fractured. Look at Kvyat, he seemed almost suicidal at Spa last year, and looked like he was going to be dropped, but he's been steady this year and confirmed for next year. Massa was re-signed as a means to an end. He was ready to enjoy his retirement. If we assume Massa isn't retained it looks like the available choices are Palmer, diResta or Kubica. It could come down to who brings the best sponsorship package, and I would imagine that would be Palmer.
Edited by Jinba Ittai on Monday 11th September 13:59
obviously see him differently.
My big concern for Williams is that Paddy Lowe arrived and immediately announced the team had gone down the wrong path with some key areas they just couldn't do anything with this year. I see this year as a write off while they work on 2018 and correct those issues.
I see the midfield breaking into 2 seperate groups.
Rear group:
Force India have peaked
Toro Rosso will likely move backward
HAAS i see stalling in development, their upgrades aren't working and braking still a massive issue.
Sauber - move closer just due to the engine but still on the back
Front group:
Renault are improving slowly, big aero steps recently
McLaren should take a reasonable step forwards with the power unit
RBR will lead the way here
Williams hopefully should have resolved the fundamental issues Paddy has seen and be in that front group but they need a driver lineup capable of competing. Palmer / Stroll just isnt it. In a close battle, I'd see Hulkenberg / Sainz / Alonso / Ricciardo and Max comfortably ahead.
My big concern for Williams is that Paddy Lowe arrived and immediately announced the team had gone down the wrong path with some key areas they just couldn't do anything with this year. I see this year as a write off while they work on 2018 and correct those issues.
I see the midfield breaking into 2 seperate groups.
Rear group:
Force India have peaked
Toro Rosso will likely move backward
HAAS i see stalling in development, their upgrades aren't working and braking still a massive issue.
Sauber - move closer just due to the engine but still on the back
Front group:
Renault are improving slowly, big aero steps recently
McLaren should take a reasonable step forwards with the power unit
RBR will lead the way here
Williams hopefully should have resolved the fundamental issues Paddy has seen and be in that front group but they need a driver lineup capable of competing. Palmer / Stroll just isnt it. In a close battle, I'd see Hulkenberg / Sainz / Alonso / Ricciardo and Max comfortably ahead.
Hulkenburg is over valued IMHO, he doesn't do much in a race, I haven't seen anything from him that makes you go wow, like you do with Max or Dani. He is a competent driver, but not the quality of the top guys.
Palmer makes too many mistakes, he has some speed but its often peppered with screw ups when he shows it. This year has been pretty bad for him on the car front, but looking over his performances when the car worked he hasn't set the world on fire. He wont ever be a team leader with pace that is reliable, if you want a decent number 2 he would be OK, but there are plenty of kids who could do that. He seems like a decent bloke, but that's not enough.
Massa really should have not come back, I think that's sinking in now, he had the perfect send off with that race in Brazil. Williams need to get someone in that car with some fire in their belly, not a plodder, so forget Di Resta, he is boring. If I was them I would give Kubica a chance, what have they got to lose? Huge PR gain and the potential for an electric drive, the bloke had talent and it appears his disability is manageable.
Palmer makes too many mistakes, he has some speed but its often peppered with screw ups when he shows it. This year has been pretty bad for him on the car front, but looking over his performances when the car worked he hasn't set the world on fire. He wont ever be a team leader with pace that is reliable, if you want a decent number 2 he would be OK, but there are plenty of kids who could do that. He seems like a decent bloke, but that's not enough.
Massa really should have not come back, I think that's sinking in now, he had the perfect send off with that race in Brazil. Williams need to get someone in that car with some fire in their belly, not a plodder, so forget Di Resta, he is boring. If I was them I would give Kubica a chance, what have they got to lose? Huge PR gain and the potential for an electric drive, the bloke had talent and it appears his disability is manageable.
thegreenhell said:
Joe Saward seems to think that Jolyon Palmer is in the running to replace Massa at Williams, with Felipe likely to go to Formula E next year.
Williams need to think about the future and have a young gun like they did with Hulk and Bottas. Palmer is not F1 material, and should move into another category like sports cars.How about Oliver Rowland for the second seat at Grove? Over 25 so fits Martini's bill plus is currently 2nd in F2 along with having decent results in other formulas so can't be that bad. Have a wise head in terms of third driver/simulator driver to go alongside Gary Paffett to aid with development/set-up work with the two youngsters.
Certainly a better bet than Palmer.
Rosberg for Williams.
I know it's very unlikely to happen, but he's the right age, comes with the engine (Merc) sponsorship, certainly has it in him to take advantage when the stars align, comes with WDC status to keep sponsors happy and with Stroll they get to keep some cash coming in.
If I were running that team, I'd be begging him to come.
I know it's very unlikely to happen, but he's the right age, comes with the engine (Merc) sponsorship, certainly has it in him to take advantage when the stars align, comes with WDC status to keep sponsors happy and with Stroll they get to keep some cash coming in.
If I were running that team, I'd be begging him to come.
jsf said:
Hulkenburg is over valued IMHO, he doesn't do much in a race, I haven't seen anything from him that makes you go wow, like you do with Max or Dani. He is a competent driver, but not the quality of the top guys.
Palmer makes too many mistakes, he has some speed but its often peppered with screw ups when he shows it. This year has been pretty bad for him on the car front, but looking over his performances when the car worked he hasn't set the world on fire. He wont ever be a team leader with pace that is reliable, if you want a decent number 2 he would be OK, but there are plenty of kids who could do that. He seems like a decent bloke, but that's not enough.
Massa really should have not come back, I think that's sinking in now, he had the perfect send off with that race in Brazil. Williams need to get someone in that car with some fire in their belly, not a plodder, so forget Di Resta, he is boring. If I was them I would give Kubica a chance, what have they got to lose? Huge PR gain and the potential for an electric drive, the bloke had talent and it appears his disability is manageable.
There's a good article on the Motorsport website regarding Kubica to Williams, it appears that if the info in that article is true then his pace in Hungary on long runs was on par with Hulkenburg, and his qualifying laps around 3/10s off when you take the Ultra Soft tyres into account. The overriding issue was that he was inconsistent on long runs, a result of a lack of fitness rather than speed. But fitness is something he can easily work on my the time winter testing comes around if he did end up at Williams. It's far from out of the question it seems Palmer makes too many mistakes, he has some speed but its often peppered with screw ups when he shows it. This year has been pretty bad for him on the car front, but looking over his performances when the car worked he hasn't set the world on fire. He wont ever be a team leader with pace that is reliable, if you want a decent number 2 he would be OK, but there are plenty of kids who could do that. He seems like a decent bloke, but that's not enough.
Massa really should have not come back, I think that's sinking in now, he had the perfect send off with that race in Brazil. Williams need to get someone in that car with some fire in their belly, not a plodder, so forget Di Resta, he is boring. If I was them I would give Kubica a chance, what have they got to lose? Huge PR gain and the potential for an electric drive, the bloke had talent and it appears his disability is manageable.
DanielSan said:
There's a good article on the Motorsport website regarding Kubica to Williams, it appears that if the info in that article is true then his pace in Hungary on long runs was on par with Hulkenburg, and his qualifying laps around 3/10s off when you take the Ultra Soft tyres into account. The overriding issue was that he was inconsistent on long runs, a result of a lack of fitness rather than speed. But fitness is something he can easily work on my the time winter testing comes around if he did end up at Williams. It's far from out of the question it seems
Why would Renault run him in a test if they didn't want to offer him a race seat? If he's any good and Williams get him then they've given away an advantage to a competitor. If Williams thought he had potential surely they would have run him at a test. Unless it's sandbagging and they want him to look good so a competitor picks him up, but then he's crap
thegreenhell said:
Joe Saward seems to think that Jolyon Palmer is in the running to replace Massa at Williams, with Felipe likely to go to Formula E next year.
Joe said the other day Perez to Renault was a done deal so I'd take anything he says with a pinch of salt.Palmer in any F1 car is a waste of an F1 car. He may have been GP2 champ but 4 years to win it is not a sign he's the next big thing.
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