2017 F1 Silly Season

As the 2016 F1 season draws to a close, we look ahead to what will/could be in store for 2017. First, let's take a look at the team changes...

Mercedes AMG Petronas: Lewis Hamilton/Nico Rosberg

Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel/Kimi Raikkonen

Red Bull: Daniel Riccardo/Max Verstappen

Williams: Lance Stroll/?Pascal Wehrlein?/?Alex Lynn?

Sahara Force India: Sergio Perez/?Esteban Ocon?

McLaren: Fernando Alonso/Stoffel Vandoorne

Toro Rosso: Carlos Sainz/Daniil Kvyat

Haas: Romain Grosjean/?Esteban Gutierrez?/?Kevin Magnusson?/?Charles Leclerc?

Renault: Nico Hulkenburg/?Valterri Bottas?/?Kevin Magnusson?

Sauber: ?Felipe Nasr?/?Marcus Ericsson?/?Esteban Gutierrez?

Manor: ?Jordan King?/????

As far as schedule changes, there have been some talks of Malaysia and Italy leaving the F1 schedule. The only possible known replacement has been a return to Imola.

Car regulations will be changed. First all cars will have to be 2 meters wide, or a little over 6 feet for you non-metric users. The tires are going to be slightly wider to compensate with a new rear design.

If anything new is confirmed, feel free to post it.

The way things are going Nasr is unhappy with Sauber and could be going to Renault, but it is pretty much especulation at the moment.

While I think Gutierrez will go out of Haas, if he goes the most likely fate for him in my opinion is either be done with F1 or a possible return to Force India.

Bottas would still be with Williams yeah?

bsoyuz wrote:The way things are going Nasr is unhappy with Sauber and could be going to Renault, but it is pretty much especulation at the moment.

Considering how the 2016 season has been for both Nasr and Sauber, I wouldn't blame him.

Stroll's all but confirmed at Williams, I just don't see Bottas leaving...If he leaves then why didn't they persuade Massa into one more year. I have heard little Lynn/Williams talk lately...so much so i think that's dead in the water. Pascal would be interesting and now that i think about might actually work out with his Mercedes ties.

Ocon at Force India seems to make sense, Don't know if he'll end up there or not but he'll for sure be on the 2017 grid.

I expect Grosjean to stay at Haas, Gutti could go both ways and i wouldn't surprised if he stayed or left. I think Magnussen would be the smart pick as he's got the experience, and it's really sounding like he's out at Renault at the end of the yea. Leclerc i don't think is ready but then again GP2 doesn't really matter much anymore. I couldn't tell you where i read this at but i remember seeing somewhere that Antonio Giovinazzi wasn't be talked to about going to Haas? Might be way off on that though.

I really can't call a #2 on Renault as i don't see Bottas bailing and Magnussen staying seems really slim at this rate. I feel they've got a card up there sleeve as this time suddenly turned into the hot ride for 2017, of course it could be Hulk getting away from the behind the scenes mess. Nasr i could buy though, although i'm not sure if it happens.

Sauber i feel stays the same, it seems like for both Nasr/Ericsson pretty much the only place they can go

I see Pascal maybe staying at Manor if he can't get anything, i also see King coming up as his dad does have stakes in that team...He's improved from his 2015 GP2 run where Rossi mopped the floor with him, he's dead even on points with teammate for this year.

Williams has confirmed their 2017 driver lineup as Lance Stroll and Valterri Bottas

In very shocking news, to me, Nico Rosberg has announced his retirement from F1

Massa might make a comeback if Bottas leaves Williams

Bottas getting a shot at Mercedes would be cool.

As a person who likes good stories, i absolutely abhor a Massa return. Felt like that story closed up nicely.

Pascal got screwed

Crashtor Maldonado is apparently looking for a ride for 2017. Nothing of note has materialized as of yet though.

Source http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/maldonado-working-hard-on-return-to-f1-in-2017-743027/

TPGRacing75 wrote:Crashtor Maldonado is apparently looking for a ride for 2017. Nothing of note has materialized as of yet though.

Source http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/maldonado-working-hard-on-return-to-f1-in-2017-743027/

If he were to drive for Mercedes, I'll be both very surprised and/or worried about him...well....crashing out of at least half of the schedule. But if he were to get a ride somewhere in 2017, it most likely be Sauber for the same reason Felipe Nasr drove for them.

Well, Valtteri Bottas has been confirmed as Rosberg's replacement. I can see him challenging Hamilton, but then again, I've been a Bottas fan for a few years now.

I think 2017 will be a Red Bull cakewalk, considering their prowess with aerodynamics and the shift towards aero with the rule changes, but what do I know?

Manor Racing Team is no more.

Rovenami wrote:Manor Racing Team is no more.

To the surprise of no one, sad to say. That team seemed to be in administration every other year.

RyanB06 wrote:

Rovenami wrote:Manor Racing Team is no more.

To the surprise of no one, sad to say. That team seemed to be in administration every other year.

At least they had scored points for them to smile about

Reading some articles about Manor, having Felipe Nasr score 2 points in Brazil for Sauber is what did them in.

The_Wall_91 wrote:Reading some articles about Manor, having Felipe Nasr score 2 points in Brazil for Sauber is what did them in.

IIRC, the payout for tenth in the Constructor's Championship was around $35 million, while the eleventh place team received nothing. Nasr's two points for Sauber knocked Manor out of tenth with one race left in the season.

This isn't directly related to Formula 1, but it was recently announced that the GP2 Series has been renamed to Formula 2!

http://www.gp2series.com/News-Room/News/2017/03_March/GP2-Series-renamed-FIA-Formula-2-Championship-/

Furthermore, there will be a standalone event this year, as the semi-final event of the season will take place at Circuito de Jerez. Bahrain also returns to the calendar to open the season, while Hockenheimring and Sepang International Circuit will not retain their races.