Michael Schumacher has been given a 10-place grid penalty for the Japanese Grand Prix after crashing into the back of Jean-Eric Vergne in yesterdays Singapore GP and McLaren's Jenson Button believes the championship is between Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.
So does this open the door for Lewis Hamilton to move to Mercedes?
I do hope so as I would love to see one of the up and coming young drivers; such as Paul di Resta or Sergio Perez, given the chance in a top team.
Nah - he'll stay with McLaren.
The Mercedes board are having doubts about being fully committed to their own team in the long term (due to their constant under performance). I can't see Hamilton going to a team that may do a Honda and pull the plug anytime.
bearing in mind he's double the points in his current team than merc have, he'd be stupid to go.
schuey into management, Di resta to merc.
Schuey into a old folks home, Di Resta to Merc. 🙂
Di Resta was a Merc DTM driver; he'll be well into the minds of Merc senior management.
All Merc need to do then it get rid of the other underperformer and they could have two good drivers.
Then the lack of results is just down to the car...
Di Resta was a Merc DTM driver; he'll be well into the minds of Merc senior management
Still retained I believe, they may even have first refusal on him
All Merc need to do then it get rid of the other underperformer
?!? Rosberg has consistantly outperformed the most successful driver ever, and someone known for being to get a whole teambehind him at the expense of his team-mates (although this does appear to be less prevelant at Mrec than it was at Ferrai and Benneton)
OK, Rosberg hasn't done great since his win (more wins than Schumacher note) but that does appear to be down to the car. I hardly think Rosberg can be described as an underperformer.
.
(from a a Webber/Button/Kobiashi fan, not a Rosberg fan particularly)
I just want to see Ferarri finally ditch Massa and do something really mad like give the seat to Kobyashi....now that would make 2013 an epic season 😀
I just want to see Ferarri finally ditch Massa and do something really mad like give the seat to Kobyashi....now that would make 2013 an epic season
Whatever Domenicali has said to try and keep the background noise down, I really can't see anyone other than Perez taking that seat either 2013 or 14
Yes, but a man can dream cant he?
Hamo to the US
Kimi to Mercedes
Hora back to earth from the pig he's currently flying around on.
I still reckon there is a chance Hamilton could move to Merc, there's a few reasons.
Merc could (and reportedly have) offer him more money than McLaren, he would have a much freer choice over what sponsorship and endorsements he could do (so even more money).
McLaren are offering him a lower pay deal that what he's currently on, as they have to pay for the Mercedes engines from next season. Another contract stipulation McLaren make is that they keep all trophies, which Hamilton has made a fuss about several times, and he's trying to negotiate keeping the trophies into his contract, which McLaren aren't having.
Hamilton consistently beat Rosberg throughout their junior years, so he would (probably) be No 1 driver.
His management company are XIX Entertainment, owned by Simon Fuller, they're thinking past his F1 career too (hence having the ability to do more PR work important).
Final point, he doesn't seem happy there anymore, I'm betting he's had a falling out with the management.
Good news for Perez. Seems his driving style is similar to Button's too so maybe Macca can build a car that works for both of them.
Seems a bad move for Lewis and you'd have to wonder if it's more about money and making a change than anything else. Hopefully Paul Di Resta over to McLaren as I doubt Perez would be released by Ferrari unless loads of money changed hands and I'd be willing to bet McLaren want someone on a long-term contract.
Seems a bad move for Lewis and you'd have to wonder if [s]it's more about money and making a change than anything else[/s] he's got more info than us.
Reading that BBC link it seems as if Perez is already on his way to McLaren, a shame as I really wanted to see DiResta there as I'd love to see him with a big team. His time will come though.
Not sure Hamilton will fare any better at Merc than he did at McLaren.
Not sure Hamilton will fare any better at Merc than he did at McLaren.
Well he managed a few wins and a WDC at McLaren
as I doubt Perez would be released by Ferrari unless loads of money changed hands and I'd be willing to bet McLaren want someone on a long-term contract.
Alonso may well have vetoed a Perez move to Ferrari, he's reputed to have a clause allowing him to do that sort of thing
Di Resta could still end up at Ferrari, particularly if Perez goes to McL
Hamilton's move will either be shown to be very astute (with several new hires at Merc affecting/benefiting the car design from 2013 onwards and then the new engines from 2014) or a silly move that regardless of the truth will make his story be one of a talent gone to waste chasing money. I really hope it's the former. Championships with Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton (and maybe Button if the car's right) all on song and in competitive cars will be fantastic.
Well he managed a few wins and a WDC at McLaren
I don't think he'll manage that at Mercedes. Maybe he does indeed know something we don't though and I'm way off the mark 😉
My initial thoughts are that this is a bad move for LH. But they said the same when schumi went to Ferrari. Granted it took a while....but he was reasonably successful with them.
In 2014 engines are likely to be a big factor - new to everybody but the engine supplier's factory team will obviously have a bit more time with them than anyone else. So the Mercedes team should have a small headstart on the likes of McLaren (if they take 2014 Merc engines) which could make a big difference, especially in the first part of the season which is usually full of fly-away races which limit major redevelopment.
Also, while the units will themselves be officially homologised so there won't be massive differences between 'factory engines' and 'customer engines' there must be some benefit from being at the top of the list when issues need resolving.
All assuming that the 2014 engine rules actually come to pass of course...
[quote=jota180]Well he managed a few wins and a WDC at McLaren
That was sort of my point. He's in the fastest car, the team loves him (or used to) and he's in a home away from home there as he's been a McLaren driver for half his life. He is unlikely to improve on his situation other than the bank balance.
[quote=jota180]Alonso may well have vetoed a Perez move to Ferrari, he's reputed to have a clause allowing him to do that sort of thing
He's definitely got a clause to approve team mates but it'd be odd to have drivers in the young driver programme that turn out to be great and then you reject because they're too good. My money is still on him going to Ferrari in the next couple of years though. I'd have said that DiResta would have been at Mercedes if Hamilton hadn't signed. So, spare seat at McLaren I'm going to say DiResta or maybe, as an outside, Kovalainen.
Perez will end up at Ferrari once Alonso's career is on the wane, in the meantime they need a fast lap dog to replace Massa
[quote=thepurist]Also, while the units will themselves be officially homologised so there won't be massive differences between 'factory engines' and 'customer engines' there must be some benefit from being at the top of the list when issues need resolving.
Mercedes said the main advantage is that their car and engine will be packaged as a whole and others will have to live with what that means. Apparently the specs will be identical. That said given that's how the engine situation works right now, I don't imagine that'd be a big change.
However, given McLaren make their own engines for the road cars, is it too big a stretch to say that perhaps they have plans to move to their own engines soon and that might be why Hamilton wants the safer option of a Mercedes engine?
I hope McC really get behind Button. A great driver and, on the face of it, a decent bloke unlike......
BBC R4 news has just announced Hamilton going to Merc, BIG mistake Lewis 🙁
Perez to Mclaren apparently too.
Schumi to reject Sauber and just disappear?
BBC has just announced Hamilton going to Merc, BIG mistake Lewis
we know, that's what we're discussing 🙂
Personally, I'd like to see MSc go back to Ferrari for one final year to replace the bitterly disappointing Massa. Now that would make for some interesting racing IMO!
Maybe, maybe not - It's really impossible to be that sure...
On paper, Merc could be a smart option. Will it work out that way though?
The other thing to consider is that despite McL's ability to produce typically good cars, they've won only one World Championship in 13 years - so it seems that they rarely produce the best car - maybe going to Merc isn't such a gamble based on that and the changes coming up at Merc.
Or look at it the other way, everyone said Button was crazy leaving Brawn/Merc after winning the WC and with the benefit of hindsight he clearly made the right decision
DId i read somewhere one of the teams has first dips on di Resta? Which one is it?
Di Resta I'd have thought would be tied in with Merc(?) (and by proxy-ish, McL)
Or look at it the other way, everyone said Button was crazy leaving Brawn/Merc after winning the WC and with the benefit of hindsight he clearly made the right decision
I'm not sure. Given how their form deteriorated in comparison to the others once everyone worked out the tricks Brawn used to make it go quickly, I think a lot of people thought Button was going for a safer long-term choice.
I think DiResta had a long-term Merc contract but I'd imagine that he has clauses to let him drive for other manufacturers.
Rosberg has [s]consistantly[/s] sometimes outperformed the [s]most successful driver[/s] oldest driver on the grid [s]ever[/s]
Sorted.
I recall a similar arguement on the forum about that other journeyman Heidfeld. I said if he ever became champion I'd eat my socks. I'm still waiting.
Rosberg will show his true pace next year against arguably the quickest [u]current[/u] driver. Let's re-convene next October and compare.
I'm astonished that Hamo is off. The call of the new engine regs must have swayed him more than even bucketloads of cash. Time will tell.
Rosberg will show his true pace next year against arguably the quickest current driver. Let's re-convene next October and compare.
It'll be tough given that Hammo has secured No1 driver status and privileges
I was in Singapore for the race and spoke to one or two people who I believe have some decent inside info.
It was all about the money. Mclaren's offer was about 30% down on his prior contract.
Hamilton has taken the cheque and will spend a few years trailing around mid pack in a poor car. Clearly those are his priorities.
well first he went into tax exile and then he took the money over the best car.
Great driver but clearly greedy.
I cant see beyond financial reasons to have done this tbh and whatever he had one he would have retired a millionaire.
Wasn't it Button that was so keen to stay with Honda, he covered his own travel & subsistence costs for a season? He is a proper grown up compared to Hammy's childish exploits. Just have a look at Hammy on Twitter....
Shame he's not quite as fast though :-/
Hamiltons move will never be like the Walkinshaw move. So thats a good thing. The thing is Hamilton is still an amazing talent-I think its motivation, its not 100%. Post-title win he kinda lost that edge alittle.
Moving to a new team will be like 2008 allover again- he'll have something to prove allover again. Thats why I think its a great move.
Mclaren wasn't about just the pitstop ****ups. They were ****ing up long before and during. Strategy, tyre choice, wing choice etc etc- almost farcical at times. Remember China when he lost those valuable points- even on TV we could see his tyres falling apart and still they kept him out. ****s.
Button is more an Eddie Irvine for me- (not driving style)- forgot the WDC- he can have good days but also middling days.
@Junkyard - of course he's a tax exile, he'd be mad not to be. He has a job which requires him to be in the UK just a short time each year, why live here and pay ridiculous amounts of tax. I believe he lives in Villars above Lake Geneva, it's really lovely there.
A word in favour of McLaren, these are tough economic times, of course drivers should be paid less as McLaren's revenues from sponsorship etc are under pressure. Prudent financial decision.
Shouldn't have been landed with a $100m fine then 😆
....begs the question...if Mclaren wont pay it and Mercedes will - who has the more money to 'spend'? What does it say about Mclaren's development budget?
It'll be tough given that Hammo has secured No1 driver status and privileges
Yeah, coz Schumi would never do that, would he?
of course he's a tax exile, he'd be mad not to be
your right he would literally be in a mad house and almost definitely destitute if he did anything else, The multi millionaire has not done it because he is personally greedy and morally dodgy IMHO.
As the decision to move to a worse team for more money shows he is a man of fine principles
PS he found it boring so moved to Monaco - which is also a tax haven - go figure he must still be sane rather than still be personally very greedy
Sorry my mistake carry on as you were.
Strategy, tyre choice, wing choice etc etc- almost farcical at times
Yet McLaren have 5 wins and are 2nd in the constructors championship a good race away from the lead. Mercedes are 5th, barely ahead of Sauber (a privateer team) and will not overhaul Lotus for 4th. Hamilton is trading results for money.
Yes, McLaren have messed up but Mercedes have been no better and will not match McLaren next season.
