Die Welt der Formel 1

Valtteri Bottas: Williams open to Finn joining Mercedes

Williams are prepared to release Valtteri Bottas to become Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate in 2017.
Mercedes want the Finn, 27, to replace Nico Rosberg, who retired after winning the world title last month.
Deputy team principal Claire Williams told BBC Sport the team would let Bottas leave "if an experienced, credible alternative was available".
Williams suggested Felipe Massa could return, despite retiring at the end of this season.

Whatever we decide, it must be in the best interests of this team.
Claire Williams
Williams deputy team principal
"I'm delighted to see that a team like Mercedes lists Valtteri as a potential replacement for Nico," Williams said.
"We have always known Valtteri is one of the sport's key talents and are proud that the championship leaders recognise this.
"However, Williams has its own ambitions and we must always ensure we give our team the best opportunity to move forward. Any changes would only be made if Williams remains in a strong position to compete and develop in 2017.
"If we did allow Valtteri to leave, we would only do this if an experienced, credible alternative was available, such as someone like Felipe Massa, for example."
Williams, who finished fifth in the championship in 2016, have rejected Mercedes' first offer for Bottas, but talks are ongoing.
The team are playing hardball with Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff because he is in a difficult position having to find a team-mate for Hamilton when all the leading names are under contract.
However, it is a sensitive situation because Williams use Mercedes engines and want to keep a good relationship with the German manufacturer.
And now Mercedes have expressed an interest, Bottas is keen to take up the opportunity to join a front-running team.
Mercedes said on Thursday that they would not make an announcement on Rosberg's replacement until at least 3 January.
...
Massa to make Williams return?

Massa brought to an end his 14 years in Formula 1 last month
Williams need an experienced driver for 2017 to partner the 18-year-old Canadian rookie Lance Stroll, who is making his debut and is said to be bringing financial backing worth as much as £20m.
Re-employing Massa could be a good solution for Williams. Although he announced his retirement from F1 in September, the Brazilian made it clear he wanted to continue racing. So a seat at Williams could be a good opportunity for him.
And it could provide a benefit for Williams because the team could use the money it saves on the engine fee and Bottas' salary to fund technical developments and boost their competitiveness in future years.
Sources say Massa made his announcement only after he realised that Williams were going to keep Bottas and sign Stroll and that he was unable to find a similarly competitive car elsewhere.
Wolff's first offer to Williams for Bottas was for a reduction of 10m euros (£8.4m) in their engine bill.
It is considered likely that Williams will hold out for a figure much closer to the full amount - 17m euros (£14.2m) - to release the driver.
They are aware that Mercedes have money available for the deal because they no longer have to fund Rosberg's salary - which was set to be in the region of $22m (£17.6m) for each of the next two years.
In a separate deal, Mercedes executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe is poised to join Williams in a senior management role.
Mercedes are set to replace him with the former Ferrari technical director James Allison.

Zum Tode von John Surtees, Der Mann, der Weltmeister auf zwei und auf vier Rädern war

Als bislang einzigem Motorsportler ist ihm das Kunststück gelungen, sowohl auf dem Motorrad als auch im Formel-1-Wagen den WM-Titel zu gewinnen. Nun ist Rennlegende John Surtees im Alter von 83 Jahren gestorben.
http://www.spiegel.de/sport/formel1/zum-tode-von-john-surtees-der-mann-der-weltmeister-auf-zwei-und-auf-vier-raedern-war-a-1138295.html

osttimor schrieb:schade dass ferrari nicht ganz so stark war wie man es nach den tests vermuten konnte.

osttimor schrieb:schade dass ferrari nicht ganz so stark war wie man es nach den tests vermuten konnte.

DearMRHazzard schrieb:Das Rennen in Melbourne hat aber auch gezeigt das Kimi Räikkönen deutlich langsamer unterwegs war als sein Teamkollege Vettel.

DearMRHazzard schrieb:Auch möglich ist das der Mercedes ein paar Kilo zuviel auf den Rippen hatte und noch mit "Winterspeck" unterwegs war während der Ferrari  sehr "austrainiert" in die Saison gestartet ist

DearMRHazzard schrieb:Die Wahrheit wie es wirklich bestellt ist um die Kräfteverhältnisse in der Formel 1 werden die beiden kommenden Grand Prix zeigen in China

Corellian schrieb:bei den pirelli-reifentests hat vet die meisten runden abgespult! ham die wenigsten! diese tatsache wird einen erheblichen anteil dazu beigesteuert haben, inwiefern man seine kiste dsbzgl. abstimmen kann. wird nicht verkehrt gewesen sein, da wir eine komplett neue aero samt fzg.-dimesionen+gewicht+aufhäng

Corellian schrieb:nicht "auch möglich", ist quasi der fall. der w08 ist pi*daumen 20cm länger (->wheelbase) als der rb13 & sf70h. zudem wurde die kühlperipherie etwas grösser dimensioniert als in der saison ´16.

Corellian schrieb:... wenn es trocken bleibt und die temps nicht im keller sind (->reifenperformance ...). laut wetterbericht soll es am we regnen und etwas kühler sein als sonst.