Soldato
They were both a lot younger, now have a lot more experience and this is a different team. I don't think tensions will be much higher than with tossberg.
Rosberg retires with immediate effect
- Thread starter .Griff.
- Start date
Man of Honour
Mercedes don't seem to have a #1 #2 system, so if Alonso went there, both drivers would be on equal terms which I think would be fine.
Soldato
Alonso at Mercedes would be fantastic. Mercedes would probably walk to constructors again but at least we would have an interesting battle for the drivers championship (assuming no reliability issues like this year).
If Alonso is in the running I bet he is looking if he can pay to get out of his own McLaren contract.
If Alonso is in the running I bet he is looking if he can pay to get out of his own McLaren contract.
Soldato
And still there'll be people on here saying otherwise, like this year.
I really hope it happens, but I still struggle to see it this late in the day.
Soldato
Nothing is truly equal.
Still it should be interesting. No doubt MB would have to pay a huge sum of monies to secure him. All this talk makes me want to run home and play some motorsport manager lol.
I would be surprised if Merc are willing to spend vast amounts of money. They don't need to pay a huge salary - one of the benefits of having the current cream of the crop car, and they don't need to pay a huge break clause. Their key interest is the WCC. Wehirlein would probably suffice to get them this alongside Hamilton.
If they do pay break costs and a big salary it honestly has be cost them less than the difference between 1st and 2nd in the WCC. I can see them happy to settle for Wehirlein for 1 year and potentially only come 2nd then pay more money then they would win to get Alonso and finish 1st.
They only need to get someone in for 1 year to help them seal up the WCC and wait that extra year for all the big names who do come out of contract at the end of 2017.
If they do pay break costs and a big salary it honestly has be cost them less than the difference between 1st and 2nd in the WCC. I can see them happy to settle for Wehirlein for 1 year and potentially only come 2nd then pay more money then they would win to get Alonso and finish 1st.
They only need to get someone in for 1 year to help them seal up the WCC and wait that extra year for all the big names who do come out of contract at the end of 2017.
Soldato
The first on track issue was Hungary when Hamilton refused to follow the teams plan in qualifying. The team used to alternate which driver would be last over line and so have the advantage. In Hungary it was suppose to be Alonso, but Lewis refused to go along with this, then Alonso's antics. I remember loving it at the time, but ultimate it cost Alonso a championship.
Prior to that Alonso's issues were with Ron Dennis breaking a promise.
I can't see any of those things happening if the two were reunited both are more mature and Mercedes are a completely different team. Plenty of drivers have fallen out Ron, he's hardly the most likeable or easy to get on with character.
There's talk of the figures it would take to bring in Alonso, remember he often comes with massive sponsorship. IIRC it was worth in the 10s of millions to McLaren back in the day. Obviously less now, but still a big draw.
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Soldato
That would be all well and good if they weren't heading into the unknown with the 2017 rule change. Had the rules not been changing I think Wehrlein would have been snapped up straight away.
I don't really see how Alonso would do a better job than Rosberg has the last few years.
Hamilton and Rosberg are at the top of their game, they have built their confidence and momentum over the last 3 years. As much as people don't like Rosberg, he kept Hamilton honest most of the time and there was very little in it. Lets not mention the car is very flattering to the both of them.
Alonso just isn't at the top of his game anymore, 'back in the day' yes. I'm not saying he isn't a great driver, he is I just feel he will get convincingly beaten by Hamilton in the first year.
Hamilton and Rosberg are at the top of their game, they have built their confidence and momentum over the last 3 years. As much as people don't like Rosberg, he kept Hamilton honest most of the time and there was very little in it. Lets not mention the car is very flattering to the both of them.
Alonso just isn't at the top of his game anymore, 'back in the day' yes. I'm not saying he isn't a great driver, he is I just feel he will get convincingly beaten by Hamilton in the first year.
Don
Come off it, it's hardly the unknown, their engine is not suddenly going to the back of the field, and they have had the Championships sewn up early, and have moved to 2017 car early. They have huge budget and the previous experiences of dominating from rule changes.
The rules shakeup is just an opportunity for them to get out in front further again. If their 2017 car is anything other than top of the tree, I will be very surprised. Unless there is a new double diffuser ownage from coming out of left field, Merc will stay on top.
If you really wanted to let the rest catch up, regulation stability over a long time will do it. The laws of diminishing returns sorts it all out.
Anyway, they can have Alonso for free next year if they really want him (at 36??). The bottom line is they can take their time, discuss internally, milk the HUGE publicity and public interest during what would usually be a very quiet period. All the time knowing full well that Pascal is not going to rock the boat or push them for a decision, then jump into the seat when let out of his misery.
not when you have things like tokens, which just means who ever is leading will continue to do so.
that is now gone, aero is bigger and rbr is good on aero and probably had the better aero package this year, the removal of tokens now allows Renault to potentially catch up on the engine.
A sensible read - https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2016/12/06/reality-in-brackley/
Everyone's assuming Mercedes will continue their domination next year which is far from certain. I think Red Bull will be up there with them and thus they could have a fight on their hands for the constructors title.
I still think Wehrlein will get it but, if he starts getting beaten by the RBs too often, he won't last the season. If that happens, and McLaren continue to be useless, we could see something interesting happen
Don
Soldato
Of course it's the unknown. Just like it was in 2009. They have no idea what Red Bull or Ferrari have got coming for next season. Just look at how McLaren and Ferrari have screwed the past rule changes up. Finished as the strongest teams in 2008 with the strongest engines then they didn't get on the podium until the 10th round. It also catapulted Brawn and Red Bull to the front of the pack, even Toyota got a few good results.
The rule shakeup is also a chance for the other teams to close the gap. I'm fully expecting Red Bull to get the jump on them.
Right, and a rule change also allows other teams to catch up. There have been big shake ups with every rule change in the past 10 years.
Don
Or it lets them skip off into the distance with a bigger budget and faster starting point...
Soldato
There's a first time for everything
Soldato
Yesterday's gossip seemed to be be focusing a lot on Alonso possibly jumping the McLaren ship, but while he is not the driver he was after the scary Hungary 2009 spring accident, I think Massa would make a very competent second Mercedes driver until the "big guns" become available from the end of next season onwards.