Mercedes second seat

[Jericoke]

Mercedes probably won't want a young inexperienced driver, they have the $ to get the best available driver to continue winning the team championship. If they do want a young racer, Verstappen is my pick. Ideally Vettel would fit in well and carry on the German connection.

Mercedes is a big budget operation, but they're also run by a board that has come close to pulling the plug several times.  If you can save a few million dollars on a driver who is 'good enough', then why not?

If they get a top driver, they'll get the top ego that goes with it.  It will be like Lewis vs Nico, but ramped up to another level.  Is that what Mercedes wants, or do they want a nice, quiet smooth running team?

[Scott]

Maybe they will realize drama = TV Time.  Vettel vs Hamilton would be a humbling season for one of them.  Maybe Vettel can find a way to get fired from Ferrari - Arrivebene seemed ready to send him packing a few times. 

[Andy B]

I don't think all the turmoil within the team is good for the brand and with most of the top driver tied up till 2018 putting Wehrlein in the seat could be a stop gap but its also possible he could shine.
I doubt we'll have to wait too much longer to hear who that is and then we can have another thread titled "Is ? good enough".

[Jericoke]

I don't think all the turmoil within the team is good for the brand and with most of the top driver tied up till 2018 putting Wehrlein in the seat could be a stop gap but its also possible he could shine.
I doubt we'll have to wait too much longer to hear who that is and then we can have another thread titled "Is ? good enough".

That's what I figure, put whoever on a one year contract, and if they're great, then keep 'em.  If they're not, you've got room to add anyone.

[John S]

That's what I figure, put whoever on a one year contract, and if they're great, then keep 'em.  If they're not, you've got room to add anyone.

Well that rules out most of the experienced drivers we've discussed on here then.

Can't see the likes of Perez, Bottas or Alonso accepting a single year deal to get in the Merc, so will mean only Pascal, Nasr or Gutierrez are likely candidates. 

   

[Steve A.]

But you only taking a punt on new drivers,  you will be fairly certain of the likes of Alonso.  Maybe a two year contract,  develope the new car and build.  A lot will depend on the board members and possibly a bit on Hamilton.

[Scott]

I don't think Jeri meant Alonso Bottas or Perez...they all have pretty solid contracts but enough experience that Merc would be happy to sign them to multi-year contracts if they could.

I find it interesting that Perez came into the sport as a heavily backed pay driver that most of us gave little respect because he was a 100% pay driver.  Now he has matured and improved as a driver so much that we are talking about him being eligible for a top team race seat.  Way to go Perez!!   

[John S]

I find it interesting that Perez came into the sport as a heavily backed pay driver that most of us gave little respect because he was a 100% pay driver.  Now he has matured and improved as a driver so much that we are talking about him being eligible for a top team race seat.  Way to go Perez!!   

I think Martin Whitmarsh was ahead of the game when he signed Perez in 2013, the MP4-28 was dog though, however Checo finished with about 2/3rds of Jenson's points total.  Not a bad season in a top team against Button - teammates are the only real yardstick when judging new drivers in underperforming cars.
It was Ron's fight with Martin which led to the sacking of both Whitmarsh and Perez.

Later we've learned that Dennis ousted Whitmarsh not so much for under performance of the team but because he was too close to Mansour Ojeh, Ron's falling out with the other shareholders goes back an awful long way.

[cosworth151]

Mercedes is talking to Williams about Valtteri Bottas. Williams wants to keep him.

I didn't know that Toto Wolff is part of Bottas's management team.

http://www.racer.com/f1/item/137129-f1-mercedes-approaches-williams-about-bottas

[Scott]

I didn't know that Toto Wolff is part of Bottas's management team.

Yeah that's interesting.  Was Toto still at Williams when they first got Bottas?  I think Team Principals should be forbidden to have management contracts with drivers, just in principle.   

[Jericoke]

I didn't know that Toto Wolff is part of Bottas's management team.

Yeah that's interesting.  Was Toto still at Williams when they first got Bottas?  I think Team Principals should be forbidden to have management contracts with drivers, just in principle.   

No kidding.  How can you trust a driver whose financial security is handled by a guy running another team?

[rmassart]

Since both Alonso and Flavio have committed to McLaren I fully expect Alonso to be Lewis's team mate next year 

That's what normally happens isn't it?

[Scott]

Since both Alonso and Flavio have committed to McLaren I fully expect Alonso to be Lewis's team mate next year 

That's what normally happens isn't it?

 

[Ian]

But Fernando has stated that he will definitely be at McLaren next year.

[Dare]

Flavio had Alonso when at Renault...I always thought that was the big
reason Fisichello was treated like crap.