Formula 1 2017: General Discussion Thread

SlickRic · 02-12-2016 10:56PM

Hamilton really has no class.

'It's the first time he's beaten me in 18 years'

Seriously, is that necessary when you're asked about a colleague's retirement? Can you not just say well done?

Crackle · 02-12-2016 10:56PM

I, like everyone else, got some shock when I heard the news. His reasoning is understandable and ultimately if he's achieved his goal, and thus may not have the same drive, hunger and determination in the future, then now is as good a time as any to walk away.

Is he in the same category of what we consider the elite drivers? No. But he is in the small group of drivers who can say they were world champion. Regardless of what his detractors may say, there's no fluking a championship. You may get some slices of luck along the way (every champion/great competitor in any sport has good fortune at some point), but he still needed to drive at a consistently high level to win the championship.

As for his replacement, I hope Mercedes go for someone who can challenge, and handle, Hamilton. For the ****s and giggles I'd love one of Alonso, Vettel or Verstappen, however unrealistic they may be. The mentions of Wehrlein and Bottas above seem more likely. Some interesting days/weeks ahead anyway.

boardsuser1 · 02-12-2016 11:05PM

SlickRic wrote: »

Hamilton really has no class.

'It's the first time he's beaten me in 18 years'

Seriously, is that necessary when you're asked about a colleague's retirement? Can you not just say well done?

Whilst neither he nor Jenson Button won the 2011 title,JB did finish above Hamilton in the championship that year, Nico's first title in his life wasn't it?

gitzy16v · 02-12-2016 11:28PM

SlickRic wrote: »

Hamilton really has no class.

'It's the first time he's beaten me in 18 years'

Seriously, is that necessary when you're asked about a colleague's retirement? Can you not just say well done?

Asked if he would miss the rivalry, Hamilton added: "Well, this is the first time he has won in 18 years, hence why it's not a surprise that he decided to stop. But also he's got a family to focus on and probably wants to have more children and Formula One takes up so much of your time.

Nice misquote to suit the anti-Hamilton bias...

AMKC · 03-12-2016 12:05AM

H3llR4iser wrote: »

He seems to be. I've seen his conference in Geneva and his Facebook post, that's a guy who's really happy with whatever is going on, that's quite obvious. Relaxed and smiling.

I will admit - when I initially read the news I immediately thought that would have been the fallout of the whole Mercedes internal struggle about the Abu Dhabi events, but it's clearly not.

Also, in one specific (written) interview Nico says that, in the week before Abu Dhabi, he told both Toto Wolff and Hamilton he was going to retire if he won the title...

TL;DR - if many wives hear the interview where Nico goes on about how hard it's been for his wife, her letting him have all the peace and quiet in the world while taking care of the little girl alone and so on, there are going to be plenty of husbands sleeping on couches throughout Europe tonight

Also, in one specific (written) interview Nico says that, in the week before Abu Dhabi, he told both Toto Wolff and Hamilton he was going to retire if he won the title...

Telling Toto Wolff I understand but why tell Lewis. No wonder Lewis did not want Nico to win the WDC. I think Lewis wanted Nico to stay. Maybe if he had not of told Lewis then Lewis might not have been as aggressive in the race at trying to back him into the other cars. Am not saying he still would not have done it but Lewis might have still wanted to win the race at the same time then instead of not caring about if he wins the race or not.

I think secretly Lewis is disappointing and maybe even sad that his current team mate has has retired.

TheDoctor · 03-12-2016 12:22AM

SlickRic wrote: »

Hamilton really has no class.

'It's the first time he's beaten me in 18 years'

Seriously, is that necessary when you're asked about a colleague's retirement? Can you not just say well done?

Put up the full quote. Thanks

LollipopJimmy · 03-12-2016 12:24AM

Conor McGregor has just got a boxing licence. I wonder if he'll go for a super licence...

I really think Mercedes will be happy about this, another season of feuding drivers is not something they would have been looking forward to. I really think they'll go with a clear 1 and 2

Slutmonkey57b · 03-12-2016 12:53AM

gitzy16v wrote: »

Asked if he would miss the rivalry, Hamilton added: "Well, this is the first time he has won in 18 years, hence why it's not a surprise that he decided to stop. But also he's got a family to focus on and probably wants to have more children and Formula One takes up so much of your time.

Nice misquote to suit the anti-Hamilton bias...

It's not a misquote, nor is it taken out of context. There was simply no reason for Hamilton to bring it up at all. He wasn't replying to a staged question, he just evidently felt the need to throw a needling comment in which casts aspersions on Nico winning.

An act which makes him, as is so often the case, sounds like a classless, whiny brat.

gitzy16v · 03-12-2016 01:02AM

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

It's not a misquote, nor is it taken out of context. There was simply no reason for Hamilton to bring it up at all. He wasn't replying to a staged question, he just evidently felt the need to throw a needling comment in which casts aspersions on Nico winning.

An act which makes him, as is so often the case, sounds like a classless, whiny brat.

It is a misquote,nowhere did he say beat"me" in 18 years.
It's Nicos 1st title,I'm delighted for him,some people are just finding any excuse to give out about Hamilton,it's quite sad.

skipper_G · 03-12-2016 01:06AM

Hamilton said in reference to Rosberg "this is the first time he's won in 18 years".
I haven't seen the whole thing so am missing context, will look when I have time

gitzy16v · 03-12-2016 01:15AM

skipper_G wrote: »

Hamilton said in reference to Rosberg "this is the first time he's won in 18 years".
I haven't seen the whole thing so am missing context, will look when I have time

Thank you for an honest quote....now we can debate if it's a sly dig or not.

Top Dog · 03-12-2016 02:00AM

I've been pondering this situation all day and I've been wondering - do people feel this gets Mercedes out of a hole as regards Lewis and his blatant ignoring of team instructions at the last race? They can now just give him a slap on the wrist as they no longer have to worry about keeping Nico happy.

Or is there still a chance that they could do something dramatic and give him the bullet for the way he responded to direct instructions from Paddy Lowe? Everyone is talking about the vacant seat and who would or wouldn't be a suitable choice, but is there a possibility of a complete shake-up and both seats need filling?

skipper_G · 03-12-2016 02:06AM

Top Dog wrote: »

I've been pondering this situation all day and I've been wondering - do people feel this gets Mercedes out of a hole as regards Lewis and his blatant ignoring of team instructions at the last race? They can now just give him a slap on the wrist as they no longer have to worry about keeping Nico happy.

Or is there still a chance that they could do something dramatic and give him the bullet for the way he responded to direct instructions from Paddy Lowe? Everyone is talking about the vacant seat and who would or wouldn't be a suitable choice, but is there a possibility of a complete shake-up and both seats need filling?

I don't think there should be any slap on the wrists. I also don't think there ever would have been realistically speaking. I think the press were sensationalising the story about possibly firing him etc; I expect nothing further to happen

Joeseph Balls · 03-12-2016 02:08AM

Top Dog wrote: »

Everyone is talking about the vacant seat and who would or wouldn't be a suitable choice, but is there a possibility of a complete shake-up and both seats need filling?

No

Jordan 199 · 03-12-2016 04:02AM

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Conor McGregor has just got a boxing licence. I wonder if he'll go for a super licence...

I really think Mercedes will be happy about this, another season of feuding drivers is not something they would have been looking forward to. I really think they'll go with a clear 1 and 2

I can be #1 and Lewis can be #2

Frank Bullitt · 03-12-2016 06:03AM

Didn't Rosberg sign for another few years a while back? Clearly he was Wehrlein.

boardsuser1 · 03-12-2016 09:45AM

Gintonious wrote: »

Didn't Rosberg sign for another few years a while back? Clearly he was Wehrlein.

He signed a 2 year extension in July of this year,cost of that contract was around €36 million.

Charlie-Bravo · 03-12-2016 11:27AM

Sky Sports viewers vote for who they think will take the seat. If Alonso did take that seat, it would be an amazing chance for Jenson to slot back in at McLaren. Or maybe Jenson could take the seat at Merc.
https://twitter.com/SkySportsF1/status/804991763433869312?s=08

El_Duderino 09 · 03-12-2016 01:07PM

astrofluff wrote:

Sky Sports viewers vote for who they think will take the seat. If Alonso did take that seat, it would be an amazing chance for Jenson to slot back in at McLaren. Or maybe Jenson could take the seat at Merc.

I know Jenson's a great guy and we will all miss him terribly, BUT. He's past it. His qualifying performances have been a bit embarrassing compared to Alonso this season. If he hadn't announced his retirement few months ago, we would have to comment on his performances, whish have been pretty poor.

Jenson's gone. Forget him. There's no need to intentionally go for a slow driver when they could take a chance on a young drivers who might be slow but might be decent. Jenson gas been slow, particularly in the second half of the season.

There's no way he should get the seat over a young driver

Glico Man · 03-12-2016 01:08PM

I'd love Alonso, Vettel, Ricciardo or Verstappen to take the spot, but I can't see Merc putting themselves in a position where two team mates could take each other out again. The Bottas link makes most sense. He's a quick, solid racer that could certainly put himself on the podium/winning positions. As well as that, he wouldn't rock the boat and would toe the line of what management ask of him, unlike some of his peers that have been mentioned. He's also (not counting Wehrlein) by far the cheapest option for Merc.

I can't see any of the top drivers mentioned being allowed to leave their contracts unless they buy themselves out. Red Bull have Ric and Ves locked down for 2018/2019, Vettel has another year on his contract and McLaren will not want to be letting Alonso go, and will hold onto him for dear life imo.

Corben Dallas · 03-12-2016 01:14PM

Shocked to hear new about Nico calling it a day

he's quitting at the top.

Well Done on winning the Championship, worthy champion. Guy has class.

Rosberg was in the mold of Rubens & Massa, very quick on 'their' tracks but not an allrounder that can do well in any environment.

Nico seemed to be better around Silverstone and Monaco than Lewis.

Interesting to hear that he just did'nt want to go to war with Hamilton for another year.

Replacement.... hope they dont give it to Werhein, Lewis would *destroy* him.
I would love to see Alonso in the same team, on equal terms, Alonso is possibly the only driver on the grid that could beat Lewis.
*light the blue touchpaper* :eek:

]:)

Bottas is propably realistic... best driver they could 'get'> just write fat check to Williams.

Or...... how about Juan Pablo Montoya!!!!! :eek: we need the 'Monster' back in F1. He would take no crap from Lewis. Is still racing in single-seaters and is available ( cept Indy 500) even if only for one year?

eviltimeban · 03-12-2016 01:36PM

Corben Dallas wrote: »

Or...... how about Juan Pablo Montoya!!!!! :eek: we need the 'Monster' back in F1. He would take no crap from Lewis. Is still racing in single-seaters and is available ( cept Indy 500) even if only for one year?

Get Villeneuve in while you're at it... Mercedes are essentially an evolution of BAR anyway!

Jordan 199 · 03-12-2016 01:41PM

There's no way Juan Pablo will ever return to F1.

As a Hamilton fan, I would love to have Alonso or Vettel in the second Merc seat.

Make it happen Mr. Wolff.

eviltimeban · 03-12-2016 01:43PM

I'm fairly sure they'll go for the cheaper, safer option of a number 2 and put Bottas in there. If things aren't shaken up that much it'll mean Hamilton will walk the WDC, and why wouldn't Mercedes want that?

Alonso... it'd be just Alonso's luck if he moved to Mercedes that McLaren would come good and nail the new regs (which in fairness they won't). And Mercedes will start to slip back... Hard to know though. Probably won't happen as the engines aren't changing. Alonso will probably stay where he is but he's running out of seasons to win his third WDC.

Cool_CM · 03-12-2016 03:47PM

Jordan 199 wrote: »

I can be #1 and Lewis can be #2

Hey, you can't be lead commentator for F1 on RTE and Mercedes' number 1 driver at the same time!

mickdw · 03-12-2016 03:52PM

Jenson was slower in later half cause he was on his wind down circuit so to speak.
I'm not saying he would or should be considered for the Mercedes seat but if anyone thinks he would be slow were he to wholeheartedly take on such a role, I think they are seriously mistaken.

Jordan 199 · 03-12-2016 03:56PM

Cool_CM wrote: »

Hey, you can't be lead commentator for F1 on RTE and Mercedes' number 1 driver at the same time!

I most certainly can. I can watch the race on the steering wheel display and commentate while leading a race

Faugheen · 03-12-2016 04:50PM

Montoya would be the dream.

I think it's typical of Nico Hulkenbergs luck that a Merc drive would come up after he's signed for Renault. He would have been a shoe-in otherwise.

I think they should give it to Bottas, but I would love to see Alonso get it. Can't see them buying out his McLaren contract though.

Ghost Train · 03-12-2016 07:12PM

Hulkenberg would have suited nicely.

Maldonado and Hamilton had some close racing back in the day, he's probably available.
Kvyat would be good in a car that can match the Redbull.
Wonder would any of the lead formula E drivers be available for an f1 seat?

Faugheen · 03-12-2016 07:26PM

Actually, speaking of Formula E, if he wasn't contracted to Ferrari then I think JEV would excel in a Merc. Always thought he was vastly under-rated and under-appreciated.

Formula 1 2017: General Discussion Thread

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