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Thread: The Official 2016-2017 F1 Offseason Thread

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    The Official 2016-2017 F1 Offseason Thread

    Post discussion of the driver market, 2017 cars (when they come out), gossip, drama, etc, here.
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    Bwoah...
    BMWs are fun in the snow too...


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    Looks like Alonso, the RBR guys and Vettel are staying put.....

    What if it really is Wehrlein? That's a hell of a promotion after 1 mediocre year.
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    What other options do they really have?

    2017 seats were sorted months ago. Would have been professionally courteous for Nico to have given Toto a below-the-radar heads up.

    Someone like Kimi, at the end of their career, still competent, already a WDC, not hungry to the point of running Lewis off-track, and willing to play that #2 role, would have been an ideal replacement; but there isn't anyone available in that category.

    Either way, if it is someone like Wehrlein, we'll get some fantastic perspective on what a B- pilot can do in A+ kit (assuming Merc can remain dominant with the new rules).
    Last edited by Stuttgart951; 12-05-2016 at 09:51 AM.

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    Well, who is possible? Wehrlein is pretty much the only young newcomer they're likely to go for or who has any experience. But is he even that good? I don't know what his performance has really been like, just because you're young and got to F1 doesn't mean you're a super-talent.

    Bottas is possible but him leaving Williams would leave them in a jam. Then again could Adrian Sutil be brought in to Williams to give them an experienced driver in Bottas' stead? Surely Mercedes won't be hiring Sutil for themselves though? Pretty much the same applies to DiResta, maybe Paul is even in a better position as he's Williams' current test driver.

    I don't see Mercedes themselves hiring any other 'wildcard' than Wehrlein, the only ones they're likely to go for are 'big names' but none of them are available, Bottas is the closest to that.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Oh, I forgot to start with:

    Last edited by MagneZium; 12-05-2016 at 10:14 AM.
    BMWs are fun in the snow too...


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    That Kimi video kills me every time

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    Honestly I hope Merc tries to get Bottas but fails, just to stick it to their corporate overlords.
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    French GP returns in 2018.



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    Quote Originally Posted by BoldUlysses View Post
    Honestly I hope Merc tries to get Bottas but fails, just to stick it to their corporate overlords.
    I don't wish the fate of ending up as Hamilton's teammate on anyone.

    Maybe all of the media storm is just made up, and really no-one at all wants to have to be stuck next to F1-Bieber?
    BMWs are fun in the snow too...


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    Quote Originally Posted by auaq View Post
    French GP returns in 2018.
    Ooooooohhhhhhhh

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    Quote Originally Posted by burninator View Post
    Ooooooohhhhhhhh
    I'll take it, but it should be at Magny-Cours, not Paul Ricard.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Would Merc look at the new GP2 champ Gasly? That would give Wehrlein more time to develop.
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    Quote Originally Posted by MagneZium View Post
    I don't wish the fate of ending up as Hamilton's teammate on anyone.

    Maybe all of the media storm is just made up, and really no-one at all wants to have to be stuck next to F1-Bieber?
    Amen to that. What of the rumors that Merc is tired of dumping money into their F1 team and are looking at pulling out at some point in the next few years? They say they've accomplished everything they'd want to, and given the past 3 years it's hard to argue with that.

    Quote Originally Posted by m3fuz View Post
    I'll take it, but it should be at Magny-Cours, not Paul Ricard.
    How come? Is Magny-Cours that much better of a circuit?
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    I like both tracks to be honest. Hard to chose which I would prefer but I think Magny Cours is a more interesting race track. Paul Ricard is nice with a lot of straight sections and good for speed. It resembles more of the Villeneuve circuit.



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    Quote Originally Posted by auaq View Post
    I like both tracks to be honest. Hard to chose which I would prefer but I think Magny Cours is a more interesting race track. Paul Ricard is nice with a lot of straight sections and good for speed. It resembles more of the Villeneuve circuit.
    That's my thinking.
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    I still remember 1999 French GP where it was raining and Rubens Barrichello was leading the race at one time for Jaguar racing but Mika Hakkinen won the race. Mercedes were strong back then with their use of Beryllium in pistons I think. They were the leader of HP ranking before Beryllium got banned due to environmental risk / health hazard.



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    Quote Originally Posted by burninator View Post
    That Kimi video kills me every time
    Still bummed out that the lord of all introverts a driver with least amount of personality is the most popular in F1 today. Media already talking rubbish about Rosberg saying he was an introvert with nothing memorable left in F1. What a joke. Last memorable moment in F1 was the Vettel win from 2008 Italian gran prix. Sense then, nothing really that you can remember.

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    Quote Originally Posted by hakentt View Post
    Since then, nothing really that you can remember.
    I dunno man; it's all subjective, but I think there have been plenty of memorable moments since then. Max's drive in Brazil just a few races ago, for instance.
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    Quote Originally Posted by hakentt View Post
    Still bummed out that the lord of all introverts a driver with least amount of personality is the most popular in F1 today. Media already talking rubbish about Rosberg saying he was an introvert with nothing memorable left in F1. What a joke. Last memorable moment in F1 was the Vettel win from 2008 Italian gran prix. Sense then, nothing really that you can remember.
    Last year's Hungary race was pretty awesome.
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    Apparently Merc is still "considering" Alonso even though it's pretty clear McLaren intends to keep him AND he's under contract. Not sure how they'd manage to lure him away. Money?
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    Alonso and Hamy? Hmm ......



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    Question is will the Mercedes be dominant car in 2017? Wider tires mean engines can lay down more tourque

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    Quote Originally Posted by hakentt View Post
    Question is will the Mercedes be dominant car in 2017? Wider tires mean engines can lay down more tourque
    Knowing Alonso's luck, Mercedes would fall to a mid-pack team if he went there while McLaren began dominating until the next round of technical changes!

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by auaq View Post
    Alonso and Hamy? Hmm ......
    Exactly - round 1 didn't go that well.
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    Next year will be aero-defined. Engines won't play a dominant role like they have been doing.

    The wider tires will give much larger aero inefficiencies but much more mechanical grip. The new wings front and, especially, rear will make more downforce and thus drag.

    While Merc has a great chassis, it's been RB that have upped their chassis to surpass everyone on the grid (IMO). In terms of aero I'd say it's RB, Merc, McLaren, Ferrari. Ferrari were really struggling this year with their aero/downforce and while they got a tiny bit better RB jumped past them and Merc.

    The Merc used to be the easiest car to drive but I believe the last few races have been RB. Both of them are still "easy" for an F1 car with lots of balance and downforce. Ferrari were struggling.

    If you watch the drivers it's easy to see them making massive adjustments through a corner where Merc and RB the corner is dealt with via a single change of direction - turn wheel - hold - maybe micro adjustment - then release lock after apex and they were accelerating away.

    The more driver input the worse the car. Sauber and Manor were sawing at the wheel. Towards season end so was the Williams with both Bottas and Massa finding it difficult to turn in and then getting snap oversteer on exit.

    So next year, with overall package, it will be once again RB. Merc will be very close behind. Ferrari is hard to judge. They've been wrong so many times in the past few years. And their struggles with downforce this year does not bode well for 2017.

    In watching McLaren's progress this year I think they may get on the podium next year. I think they will be fighting with, and probably beating, Ferrari for the 3rd best. On some tracks I think they may even surpass Merc.

    An aero clean chassis also leads to better efficiency. Thus allowing the cars to start a kilo or two lighter because carrying less fuel - cleaner downforce and thus less drag = less fuel needed to push the car through the air. The teams with less budget (and less development) are still struggling because they are also carrying more fuel. I mention this because of McLaren. While the Honda engine has been getting better they've also been working on drag free aero. If Honda can get the fuel economy on par with Merc (which I don't think it currently is - the rough sound you hear from the Honda engine is much different to everything on the grid because of the aggressive cutting of cylinders for a sort of traction control but also to save fuel).

    That reminds me: next year RB and Renault have lost their Total sponsorship. IIRC Total is leaving F1. So whoever supplies their fuel and oils next year is going to play a key part. Fuel is very important for a race winning car/PU as mentioned above.

    It's going to be an interesting (and probably boring start of the) season with one clear run-away team who got things much more "right" than anyone else. Hopefully mid season will see at least 2 teams catch up in overall terms of performance. At least we'll have new cars to look at and ponder over.

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    Quote Originally Posted by RidgeBack View Post
    ...
    Yeah yeah, but who will replace Rosberg...?

    Just kidding. Great analysis, as always.
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    Quote Originally Posted by RidgeBack View Post
    That reminds me: next year RB and Renault have lost their Total sponsorship. IIRC Total is leaving F1. So whoever supplies their fuel and oils next year is going to play a key part. Fuel is very important for a race winning car/PU as mentioned above.
    That's interesting to hear, since Total has recently been blasting their excitement about the re-introduction of the French GP... Maybe they've locked down the exit from F1 and are just milking the happy news for the French company in any case.
    BMWs are fun in the snow too...


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