The 2017 Silly Season thread

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 03 Nov 2016, 10:46

AustralianStig wrote:
WeirdKerr wrote:Number 22?? shouldn't it be 14 or 47 as Button isn't racing next year......

Actually IIRC Stoffel hasn't chosen a number yet, 47 is just one of McLaren's reserve numbers for this season.

For the past two seasons, Fernando has needed a stand-in for one of the early flyaway races (i.e. last year and this year). So maybe Jenson will be parachuted into the seat for a race?

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 03 Nov 2016, 11:53

To the surprise of absolutely no one
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/willi ... up-846271/

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 03 Nov 2016, 12:14

So I supported Mansell when I first got into F1 in 1992, a Brit in a Williams. Then in 1993 onwards, I supported Hill, who began as a Brit in a Williams. Then after his retirement, I supported Button, who started out in 2000 as a Brit in a Williams. I NEED THERE TO BE A BRIT IN A WILLIAMS. CAN YOU HEAR ME, FRANK? CAN YOU HEAR ME CLAIRE? Oliver Turvey? Adam Carroll? Alex Lynn? Alex Brundle? Oliver Rowland? Will Stevens? There is at least a choice...

Jan Magnussen · Post by **Rob Dylan** » 03 Nov 2016, 12:26

I have no idea how good this young kid is, so I have no comment on that.

I think the more important question is how good Williams will compete next year. They can't lose the momentum they gained from the last few years with the new regulation changes, and it would be sad to see them slip into the quagmire of the lower midfield once again.

Post by **Ataxia** » 03 Nov 2016, 13:41

Lance Stroll has the talent to make it. He WILL be ragged in the first couple of years, I can guarantee that, but he's got bags of pace and further bags of finance to sweeten the pot. It's win-win for Williams, really.

dr-baker wrote:So I supported Mansell when I first got into F1 in 1992, a Brit in a Williams. Then in 1993 onwards, I supported Hill, who began as a Brit in a Williams. Then after his retirement, I supported Button, who started out in 2000 as a Brit in a Williams. I NEED THERE TO BE A BRIT IN A WILLIAMS. CAN YOU HEAR ME, FRANK? CAN YOU HEAR ME CLAIRE? Oliver Turvey? Adam Carroll? Alex Lynn? Alex Brundle? Oliver Rowland? Will Stevens? There is at least a choice...

For what it's worth, you'll be best served keeping an eye out on the likes of Lando Norris, Jack Aitken, Jake Dennis...maybe even George Russell in the next few years. Alex Lynn could have had a chance at the Williams drive if he'd not had a poor GP2 season, and F1 is passé for the others on your list.

Lando will be huge in a few years, and he's a Bristol lad, so he'll be repping the West Country massive.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 03 Nov 2016, 14:24

Ataxia wrote:Lance Stroll has the talent to make it. He WILL be ragged in the first couple of years, I can guarantee that, but he's got bags of pace and further bags of finance to sweeten the pot. It's win-win for Williams, really.

dr-baker wrote:So I supported Mansell when I first got into F1 in 1992, a Brit in a Williams. Then in 1993 onwards, I supported Hill, who began as a Brit in a Williams. Then after his retirement, I supported Button, who started out in 2000 as a Brit in a Williams. I NEED THERE TO BE A BRIT IN A WILLIAMS. CAN YOU HEAR ME, FRANK? CAN YOU HEAR ME CLAIRE? Oliver Turvey? Adam Carroll? Alex Lynn? Alex Brundle? Oliver Rowland? Will Stevens? There is at least a choice...

For what it's worth, you'll be best served keeping an eye out on the likes of Lando Norris, Jack Aitken, Jake Dennis...maybe even George Russell in the next few years. Alex Lynn could have had a chance at the Williams drive if he'd not had a poor GP2 season, and F1 is passé for the others on your list.

Lando will be huge in a few years, and he's a Bristol lad, so he'll be repping the West Country massive.

What's you opinion on Dean Stoneman?

Aislabie · Post by **Aislabie** » 03 Nov 2016, 14:33

Ataxia wrote:For what it's worth, you'll be best served keeping an eye out on the likes of Lando Norris, Jack Aitken, Jake Dennis...maybe even George Russell in the next few years. Alex Lynn could have had a chance at the Williams drive if he'd not had a poor GP2 season, and F1 is passé for the others on your list.

Lando will be huge in a few years, and he's a Bristol lad, so he'll be repping the West Country massive.

Should they all be fortunate enough to get competitive cars, then I imagine that the next era of F1 will see Max Verstappen, Lance Stroll, Lando Norris and Robert Verschoor in a four-way Championship joust, rather like the whole Schumacher/Raikkonen/Alonso/Button phase

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 03 Nov 2016, 14:45

Here's hoping Stroll is not a DeCrasheris (no offense intended) anymore like he used to be when his name was first reported in the press due to the incident which gave him a ban for at least one F3 race.

Williams sure can handle him, as they have proven with the Reverend before.

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 03 Nov 2016, 15:08

Well, that's the Peter Ryan profile confirmed. The first draft is already finished!

The similarities between Stroll and Ryan are actually a little scary...

Post by **Londoner** » 03 Nov 2016, 15:31

For what it's worth, Lando Norris is gonna be awesome when he makes it to Formula One. I'm surprised no-one's signed him up yet, though I imagine McLaren will be the most likely destination, as they will eventually need a replacement for Alonso.

Post by **Ataxia** » 03 Nov 2016, 15:35

dr-baker wrote:What's you opinion on Dean Stoneman?

Definitely a talented lad, was terrific in GP3 after returning from his cancer-enforced time away. Thing is, after being dropped by Red Bull it's clear he's got no chance of making F1, hence why he moved to Indy Lights last season. He's 26 already as well, so although he's still a young man he's certainly not getting any younger. Assuming a driver peaks physically at around 28-32, he's not far off that.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 03 Nov 2016, 17:19

East Londoner wrote:For what it's worth, Lando Norris is gonna be awesome when he makes it to Formula One. I'm surprised no-one's signed him up yet, though I imagine McLaren will be the most likely destination, as they will eventually need a replacement for Alonso.

One thing, his name sounds awesome. Like 'Chuck Norris playing a role in Star Wars'

johnston21 · Post by **johnston21** » 03 Nov 2016, 22:00

Go Canada, we're with you Lance!!!

Izzyeviel · Post by **Izzyeviel** » 04 Nov 2016, 01:12

Rather nice of Williams to resign Pastor.

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 04 Nov 2016, 01:29

This is kinda depressing, Stroll is nearly 8 months younger than me and got an F1 drive. Meanwhile, here I am, sitting at my computer doing bathplug all with my life.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 04 Nov 2016, 01:41

RonDenisDeletraz wrote:This is kinda depressing, Stroll is nearly 8 months younger than me and got an F1 drive. Meanwhile, here I am, sitting at my computer doing bathplug all with my life.

You're gonna become me, a thirty year old NEET

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 04 Nov 2016, 03:14

RonDenisDeletraz wrote:This is kinda depressing, Stroll is nearly 8 months younger than me and got an F1 drive. Meanwhile, here I am, sitting at my computer doing bathplug all with my life.

Time for that to change, no?

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 04 Nov 2016, 08:32

Ataxia wrote:Lando will be huge in a few years, and he's a Bristol lad, so he'll be repping the West Country massive.

Is there any chance he's named after a certain scoundrel from The Empire Strikes Back?

tBone · Post by **tBone** » 04 Nov 2016, 11:18

WeirdKerr wrote:Number 22?? shouldn't it be 14 or 47 as Button isn't racing next year......

Oops...

By the way, in reply to the comments saying McLaren will probably keep their black livery: I agree. But hey, there's nothing wrong with dreaming, is there?

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 04 Nov 2016, 17:08

tBone wrote:
WeirdKerr wrote:Number 22?? shouldn't it be 14 or 47 as Button isn't racing next year......

Oops...

By the way, in reply to the comments saying McLaren will probably keep their black livery: I agree. But hey, there's nothing wrong with dreaming, is there?

Yeah, nothing wrong with my earth dreams.

Post by **Londoner** » 09 Nov 2016, 09:18

Magnussen to Haas is looking like a done deal.

The point that interested me though was this:

Magnussen's capture would place the future of Gutierrez in doubt, however he is among those being considered for the second seat at Renault alongside Nico Hulkenberg.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 09 Nov 2016, 10:39

East Londoner wrote:Magnussen to Haas is looking like a done deal.

The point that interested me though was this:

Magnussen's capture would place the future of Gutierrez in doubt, however he is among those being considered for the second seat at Renault alongside Nico Hulkenberg.

A carbon copy of Sauber's 2013 then. Hulkenberg to completely annihilate Gutierrez yet again. I know Palmer isn't great but Gutierrez would be a major step down even from him.

madmark1974 · Post by **madmark1974** » 09 Nov 2016, 12:38

BBC are also reporting Magnussen to Haas as done, but again, a small snippet at the bottom of the article suggests Palmer may end up at Force India, which I'm not sure I'd seen mentioned before ...

Magnussen's decision leaves Renault choosing between a number of drivers for their second seat alongside German Nico Hulkenberg, who signed for the team last month.

Palmer has an outside chance while others in the frame include Manor drivers Frenchman Esteban Ocon and German Pascal Wehrlein, Mexican Esteban Gutierrez, whose seat at Haas Magnussen has taken, and Sauber's Felipe Nasr.

Palmer, though, is considered more likely to end up at Force India, where many of the other drivers mentioned are also in the frame.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/37920386

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 09 Nov 2016, 14:08

I think Palmer deserves another crack and I hope he realises how lucky he is if it's at FI.

Post by **Ataxia** » 09 Nov 2016, 14:30

CoopsII wrote:I think Palmer deserves another crack and I hope he realises how lucky he is if it's at FI.

...although he's just been confirmed at Renault for another year. Fair play, I guess!

Post by **mario** » 09 Nov 2016, 14:45

Ataxia wrote:
CoopsII wrote:I think Palmer deserves another crack and I hope he realises how lucky he is if it's at FI.

...although he's just been confirmed at Renault for another year. Fair play, I guess!

So, whilst Magnussen seems bound for Haas and Palmer seems set to stay at Renault, it looks like Ocon is now the driver who is heading over to Force India.

There was an interesting suggestion that there was something of a fight between Mercedes, who wanted Ocon to go to Force India, and FOM, who wanted Nasr to go to Force India (believing that it would consolidate their viewing figures in Brazil if he went to a more competitive team, especially with Massa leaving the sport). If that was a trial of their relative strengths, it would seem to suggest that Mercedes came out on top in that situation.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 09 Nov 2016, 15:14

Ataxia wrote:
CoopsII wrote:I think Palmer deserves another crack and I hope he realises how lucky he is if it's at FI.

...although he's just been confirmed at Renault for another year. Fair play, I guess!

That just about caps it off for me. I predicted we'd Brexin, I predicted Clinton would win and I predicted Maggie would get beaten to death in The Walking Dead.

I'm shite.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » 09 Nov 2016, 16:13

Palmer only really got the Renualt drive as others were nkt available such as sainz and Perez. I fully expect the Hulk to destroy Him, Ocon is a shoe in for Force India unless FOM get their way. Sauber may not change although I feel Antonio Giovanzzi could get that seat alongside Erricson. Kmag, Grosjean is a seriously strong lineup for Haas

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 09 Nov 2016, 18:47

I predicted Brexit, I predicted Trump win, I never watched Walking Dead, but THIS...

I mean, what was their reasoning to hesitate to keep KMag on-board again? Who on earth would prefer Jolyon to Kevin? Okay Renault, fine, now Kevin will beat Jolyon, the only difference being he will be in Haas. Big deal.

<spoiler>i dislike jolyon palmer</spoiler>

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 09 Nov 2016, 19:13

Surprised to see Palmer keep his ride. When is the last time this has happened to a strong ROTY candidate? Well, stranger things have happened, I guess. :chilton:

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 09 Nov 2016, 20:51

Yannick wrote:Surprised to see Palmer keep his ride. When is the last time this has happened to a strong ROTY candidate? Well, stranger things have happened, I guess.

Gutierrez kept his Sauber seat after being 2013 ROTY, and he was comprehensively annihilated by Hulkenberg that year. Palmer has been much closer to Magnussen, and had been quicker at times.

I'd say Palmer just about deserves a second chance, I don't think he's been as bad as people claim.

Meatwad · Post by **Meatwad** » 09 Nov 2016, 20:51

I'm not over the moon about Palmer keeping his seat, but I don't think it's an injustice either. I can't really see why he's so badly regarded. After an underwhelming start to the season, he has looked like a proper F1 driver. Recently, he has outpaced Magnussen several times (at least in qualifying) and scored a point – no mean feat when Magnussen has also finished in points just twice all season. Especially when there's one driver with more experience, a better car over the season and zero points... Palmer also brings money to the team so retaining him makes sense.

Post by **mario** » 09 Nov 2016, 22:56

solarcold wrote:I predicted Brexit, I predicted Trump win, I never watched Walking Dead, but THIS...

I mean, what was their reasoning to hesitate to keep KMag on-board again? Who on earth would prefer Jolyon to Kevin? Okay Renault, fine, now Kevin will beat Jolyon, the only difference being he will be in Haas. Big deal.

<spoiler>i dislike jolyon palmer</spoiler>

There were rumours that Renault thought that Magnussen performed quite badly off track in his technical debriefings due to a lack of organisational skills (a bit like his father in that respect), as well as being a bit lazy. Still, the talk is that Renault did offer Magnussen a one year deal (even if they weren't hugely impressed by him), and it was Magnussen who turned them down because Haas had offered him a two year deal instead.

I guess that it is coming from the fact that Renault has failed to secure any of the drivers they were rumoured to have spoken to - Red Bull were quick to secure Sainz Jr., Ocon has stayed loyal to Mercedes, who are rumoured to have eased him into a seat at Force India, Bottas wasn't budging from Williams and Magnussen spurned their offer to him.

As FullMetalJack and Meatwad note, whilst Palmer's extension is a little underwhelming, like Palmer himself, at the same time he has at least shown signs of improvement over the latter part of this season. I'd agree that, although he seems to have been far from Renault's first choice for the seat, he's at least shown enough of an upward trajectory on his development curve to justify keeping him on, even if it is just as a stop gap for 2017 (which, If Magnussen was offered just a one year deal, is what I suspect is the case).

Post by **Ataxia** » 10 Nov 2016, 07:32

I think most people here know how I'd have felt if Sirotkin got the second seat alongside Hulkenberg.

Damn it, Renault, this could have happened.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 10 Nov 2016, 10:34

Ataxia wrote:I think most people here know how I'd have felt if Sirotkin got the second seat alongside Hulkenberg.

Damn it, Renault, this could have happened.

They could have also gone with my boy Ollie Rowland or Louis Deletraz

andrew · Post by **andrew** » 10 Nov 2016, 12:12

Wizzie wrote:
Ataxia wrote:I think most people here know how I'd have felt if Sirotkin got the second seat alongside Hulkenberg.

Damn it, Renault, this could have happened.

They could have also gone with my boy Ollie Rowland or Louis Deletraz

Renualt have an army of young drivers and yet didn't go for any of them. At least red bull use the drivers on their programme

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 10 Nov 2016, 12:16

Another piece of the puzzle complete.

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 10 Nov 2016, 12:55

Well we shall see how the #2 guy (in reference to his GP3 streak) does there.

Benetton · Post by **Benetton** » 10 Nov 2016, 12:57

I believe Bottas has been more or less tied to Williams for 2017, his last year of his current contract with them, and it's possible Williams and Renault couldn't find an agreement over 2017. Williams really need Bottas for continuity for 2017. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Bottas has already signed a deal with Renault for 2018 onwards. Renault would then get their preferred line-up of Hülkenberg and Bottas when they are expected to be competitive again.

Regarding Renault I am not at all surprised that they've gone for Palmer. It brings continuity and Palmer is atleast a known quantity. Palmer knows he's been given a lifeline and his Formula One career depends on how he does against Hülkenberg in 2017.

Lance Stroll will be interesting to watch to say the least. He has done well so far in junior formulae but man he is young. And he is not talentwise even close to Verstappen in my opinion. I feel that Williams could slip really down the order in 2017 if they only have Bottas scoring the points.

Ocon going to Force India more or less means Wehrlein is staying put at Manor. The other Manor will go to [INSERT PAY DRIVER HERE]. I hope Sauber will go for a completely new line-up. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see Nasr retained since that is continuity, sponsorship, and a Brazilian driver on the grid (Bernie negotiating). Really outside the box thinking is going for Gustav Malja (b. 1995). He really improved his form during the latter part of the GP2 series this year (his first in GP2). And he is Swedish.

Post by **mario** » 10 Nov 2016, 13:01

andrew wrote:
Wizzie wrote:
Ataxia wrote:I think most people here know how I'd have felt if Sirotkin got the second seat alongside Hulkenberg.

Damn it, Renault, this could have happened.

They could have also gone with my boy Ollie Rowland or Louis Deletraz

Renualt have an army of young drivers and yet didn't go for any of them. At least red bull use the drivers on their programme

At the moment, the drivers they have on the books are Oliver Rowland, Louiz Deletraz, Jack Aitken and Kevin Joerg - out of those, I think the only one who would be allowed to apply for a superlicence would be Rowland (I believe that the rest would fall short of the minimum points requirement).

At the moment, though, it looks like Renault are focussing more on steadying the ship and consolidating the team - in that respect, waiting for a while before bringing in one of their new drivers isn't such a bad idea.

Benetton wrote:Lance Stroll will be interesting to watch to say the least. He has done well so far in junior formulae but man he is young. And he is not talentwise even close to Verstappen in my opinion. I feel that Williams could slip really down the order in 2017 if they only have Bottas scoring the points.

To be honest, I'm expecting them to slip down the order anyway - the upcoming regulations, which have opened up more avenues for aero development, are unlikely to favour Williams given that their aero department has been on the weaker side in recent years.