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Things really are getting serious now. Bottas and Sainz are pretty much the only truly viable candidates if Mercedes want a hope of contending with a likely rejuvenated Red Bull in the constructors’ championship and both are looking pretty near impossible to poach.
We know that Mercedes have quickly got on to drafting a second proposal for Williams after the first was rejected, but we now have senior Williams personnel, Pat Symonds, talking about how essential it is that they keep Bottas. It is understandable, given that because they have rookie Stroll on contract, Wehrlein is not much of a consolation prize. Also Martini have expressed concerns about having two drivers under 22. If they do lose Bottas, Kvyat might be a better replacement providing they can secure his release, and they might even have to consider di Resta. In any case, it would be a fairly devastating loss for Williams.
Sainz looks no less difficult. Now a certified star of the future, he no doubt tops Mercedes preference list, which also means Red Bull will be all the more adamant to retain him. The fact that Gasly, who would have taken Sainz’s place no doubt, is about to announce his new Super Formula deal, probably means Mercedes’ approach has fallen on deaf ears. So Marko has effectively frustrated Carlos’ hopes of a top-level promotion twice in one year. Nice.
And that leaves Wehrlein. Such are the crippling permutations of Rosberg’s decision, especially at a time when the driver market music has stopped, that he almost needs to be talked round…or failing that, referred to the CRB (Contract Recognition Board). Nico is costing his team points before the season has even begun, and when there is a contract in place, surely that cannot be tolerated.
It’s actually completely superfluous and underdeveloped compared with the brilliant FIA WEC app. Yes, it’s useful to have the timing data at your fingertips when you’re spectating at the track, but with the delay in live TV coverage, it becomes a pointless prophecy of what will happen in thirty seconds time when used with the live TV coverage.
What is true of F1 Access is true of all F1’s engagement with digital platforms: it is completely outclassed by other sorts of motorsport, especially MotoGP. F1 really needs a Dorna of its own…
1) Hamilton – Lewis is at a scary level right now. Scintillating in qualifying, decisive in wheel-to-wheel racing and even now the reference when it comes to tyre management. He is the complete package.
2) Verstappen – What Max achieved in Spain is perhaps the most miraculous display in modern times. I simply refuse to believe that a teenager in his third year out of karts is one of the topline performers on the grid. He could be champion in 2017.
3) Ricciardo – Staking his claim as being among the top echelon of drivers in the world, and a champion of the future. Classy, consistent, assured performances have proven that 2014 wasn’t a flash in the pan.
4) Rosberg – He has definitely taken a step in 2016 – three victories on merit over the newly crowned champion at the end of 2015 surely helped. The only thing stopping Nico from crossing the Rubicon and becoming a champion is the almost offensive brilliance of his teammate.
5) Sainz – Continues to do a stellar job in showing how blinkered and small-minded Ferrari were for not investing in his services.
6) Perez 7) Raikkonen 8) Vettel 9) Grosjean 10) Bottas
In June, Carlos Sainz Jr had two hands on both the FR3.5 title and an F1 race seat, reports even linked him with a 2014 debut with Caterham before replacing Vergne in 2015. However now it appears Carlos has lost both, and is even being outraced by Red Bull stablemate and FR3.5 rookie, Gasly. Obviously Verstappen has (wrongly) taken the seat Sainz was destined for in F1, and the increasingly remarkable return to single seaters of Roberto Merhi has put him within 16 pts of Sainz with four races remaining having taken 23 pts of Sainz’s lead at the Hungaroring alone. Put simply, unless Sainz finds more pace, he will not win the title, and if he doesn’t, Red Bull will cut ties with him and I doubt we’ll hear his name again…
Surprising, Mercedes’ interest in Max would have been my tip because…
1) There are no Mercedes backed drivers to compete with – Jazeman Jafaar is backed by Petronas and has no affiliation with the Mercedes F1 Team
2) The likelihood that any Mercedes-powered F1 would be a competitive platform to impress bigger team – you can’t unmake an excellent power-unit
3) There is a Mercedes F1 Team reserve role to fill now a deflated Sam Bird is racing sportscars
4) Red Bull’s Junior Team already is heading for a compounded log-jam with Sainz, Gasly, Lynn, Vergne and Kvyat all performing wellI don’t suppose also that this bodes well for Vergne’s chances of remaining in F1 much longer, with Red Bull’s junior queue getting ever longer and more illustrious.