silly season - F1 2017 driver line up

Junglist · 16 Jan 2017 at 16:30

Good for Bottas but I really wanted it to be Sainz. I know that was unrealistic but I feel Red Bull will ruin his career and put everything behind golden boy max

Quartz · 16 Jan 2017 at 16:40

lunarwolf said:
Manor in buyout talks http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/manor-f1-team-has-buyout-offer-865886/?s=1

One of the comments on that page says the buyer may be Japanese. So perhaps Toyota are getting back in? Will we see Kobayashi back?

Glaucus · 16 Jan 2017 at 16:41

disappointing but expected, hope I'm wrong but do not expect bottas to give Ham a fight.
and massa back in an f1 car is depressing. As is the grid as a whole.
Only real hope for the season is for max to have a good RB car under him.

Now watch me be totally wrong.

dannyjo22 · 16 Jan 2017 at 18:19

So they signed a patsy for Hamilton. I don't blame them but will miss the melt downs and woe is me when bottas becomes the new heikki.

Junglist · 16 Jan 2017 at 18:36

Why are people writing Bottas of before he has even sat in the car?

antijoke · 16 Jan 2017 at 18:42

JunglistE said:
Why are people writing Bottas of before he has even sat in the car?

Because Hamilton.

Junglist · 16 Jan 2017 at 19:03

For all we know he may thrash Hamilton!

Doubtful but you never know.

CaptainRAVE · 16 Jan 2017 at 19:05

I could imagine Bottas pushing Hamilton more than Rosberg did. That said, Hamilton will be the clear number 1 now that Rosberg screwed them over. I wonder how much they paid Williams?

Nismo · 16 Jan 2017 at 19:33

I'd be embarrassed if I were Massa, all the pit-lane cheering, car gifting, farewell party shenanigans and now he's back immediately. Not like it's even a season-long hiatus.

ScoobyDoo69 · 16 Jan 2017 at 20:12

I imagine he's been put under a lot of pressure.

CaptainRAVE · 16 Jan 2017 at 20:29

ScoobyDoo69 said:
I imagine he's been put under a lot of pressure.

Yes, I am sure the huge pay check he was offered weighed heavily on his shoulders.

this_is_gav · 16 Jan 2017 at 21:24

I get the impression Massa retired because they were bringing in Stroll, rather than them bringing in Stroll because Massa was retiring.

He was presumably quite happy to continue for 2017 but decided against it when Williams weren't renewing his contract and there were no other suitable drives left.

I can't imagine it's all about money - according to pretty much everyone who's met him he's the most decent person you could ever meet - which for some reason everybody on this and most English-speaking forums has completely ignored for the past decade and a half.

englishpremier · 16 Jan 2017 at 21:48

this_is_gav said:
I get the impression Massa retired because they were bringing in Stroll, rather than them bringing in Stroll because Massa was retiring.

He was presumably quite happy to continue for 2017 but decided against it when Williams weren't renewing his contract and there were no other suitable drives left.

I can't imagine it's all about money - according to pretty much everyone who's met him he's the most decent person you could ever meet - which for some reason everybody on this and most English-speaking forums has completely ignored for the past decade and a half.

I've never seen any Massa hate here or any other forums. He gets stick for not being as fast as the top guys and his crashes but don't believe anyone doesn't think he's a decent person.

ScoobyDoo69 · 16 Jan 2017 at 23:04

CaptainRAVE said:
Yes, I am sure the huge pay check he was offered weighed heavily on his shoulders.

The money is just even more pressure IMO. He must feel silly retiring and going through the emotions to only have to be begged to come back.

Williams should have left him be. I'm sure the extra money earned for the year won't get spent like the rest of it..

The_Abyss · 17 Jan 2017 at 00:05

Nismo said:
I'd be embarrassed if I were Massa, all the pit-lane cheering, car gifting, farewell party shenanigans and now he's back immediately. Not like it's even a season-long hiatus.

Why? He retired, and Williams (for whatever reasons) brought him back. What's there to be embarrassed about (other than his driving

)

drunkenmaster · 17 Jan 2017 at 01:52

JunglistE said:
Why are people writing Bottas of before he has even sat in the car?

Because danny hates, absolutely hates Hamilton and will hit him for anything. He's blaming Hamilton for ROsberg hitting Hamilton... which is actually Rosberg having a meltdown. But he puts it on Hamilton because that is what he does.

ramdrive · 17 Jan 2017 at 01:56

Bottas is a good driver, but in comparison I think this season we will see how good Rosberg really was....

Nismo · 17 Jan 2017 at 05:13

He reminds me of Barichello, another nice bloke nearly-man in F1, but cringingly desperate to cling on to a drive when they are past their best.

The_Abyss said:
Why?

Nismo said:
all the pit-lane cheering, car gifting, farewell party shenanigans

Oh yeah guys, erm, thanks for all your kindness in Brazil that time, but you'll have to do it all again sometime. Was just kidding LOL...can I have another free car Claire?

dannyjo22 · 17 Jan 2017 at 07:50

JunglistE said:
Why are people writing Bottas of before he has even sat in the car?

antijoke said:
Because Hamilton.

Exactly, Mercedes know the way to get the very best from Hamilton is to give him someone who will defer to him. They could have gotten anyone they liked regardless of contracts but probably had enough of the hassle and were confident enough in the car that they know they didn't need another top driver.

Not only that but Hamilton has years of experience in the team, that would have helped Rosberg to a degree having been there longer than Hamilton. If Rosberg had joined after Hamilton had 3 or 4 more years than him at Mercedes he would have been utterly destroyed too.

Bottas has been hired as he won't give Hamilton any trouble while he waltz's to the title with no fallouts. Until a better option comes along I think this is a good Mercedes call.

MooMoo444 · 17 Jan 2017 at 08:14

Bottas had a spark in him a few seasons ago. Being in the probable best car on the grid might reignite that spark.