2017 NASCAR Season

Dani Pedrosa really messed up big time here.

Drew Bennett68 said:Dani Pedrosa really messed up big time here.

Who on earth are you talking about?

mellowtiger83 said:Who on earth are you talking about?

Go ahead and look at poll.

Sebastian Vettel says there's zero chance he's jumping ship to Mercedes F1 to take over for Nico Rosberg—he's staying put with Ferrari...

🙂

I wouldn't be particularly shocked if Fernando Alonso made the move to Mercedes, but I would honestly expect them to recruit and develop someone younger instead. I am not quite sure why they would need two massive superstars, especially when both seem to be on the downward slope of their careers. (And before mellowtiger83 loses his mind here: Lewis Hamilton is incredible, but he’s reached an age where it is difficult to imagine him getting any better in the coming years).

Talking about Fernando Alonso joining Mercedes is just pointless...
Mercedes is definitely going to grab one of their own kids from the junior program, which is basically what his old man said when he claimed there’s a 90% chance it’ll be Pascal...

What kind of headache would a rookie cause for Lewis Hamilton? If they didn't have enough drama dealing with Nico Rosberg, they certainly don't need Alonso right now.🤣
If they keep having a dominant car, someone like Jevon Palmer paired with Lewis Hamilton is plenty to secure the Constructors' Championship, let alone someone like Pascal...
At the end of the day, Lewis Hamilton had only a few points less than a full Red Bull or Ferrari this season anyway,
so it's hard to imagine The Bear actually being worried about their second driver's performance...

They can only consider drivers like Fernando Alonso if Lewis Hamilton leaves first. Before then? Not happening...

Maybe—and I mean *maybe*—they could try poaching Max Verstappen. It makes sense given his talent and the fact that he could easily stay in Formula 1 for another 15 years or more...
but I highly doubt it. He's under contract with Red Bull Racing, and it's a long shot to think Red Bull would let him go, or that he'd even want to leave Red Bull...
Besides, regardless of all the media magic Lewis Hamilton pulls, he'd struggle with Max Verstappen or anyone else serious joining The Bear. All those comments about wanting equality? Just pure PR, nothing more...
Even he doesn't really want it, and the Mercedes leadership definitely doesn't either...

It’s pretty funny how everyone seems to be eyeing a seat at Mercedes-Benz all of a sudden—but once you factor in the unrestricted Power Unit development and those upcoming rule changes, nobody can really guarantee they’ll still be the team to beat next season.

If either of the drivers over at Red Bull Racing decides to jump ship to join the Mercedes-Benz squad, they might find themselves in for a massive reality check.

And it’s not just that—they don't even have Nico Rosberg anymore...

The real question is how car development is going to suffer now that they're missing Rosberg, especially since Lewis Hamilton clearly isn't about to let things slide (at least from what we can see on the outside)...
From what I can tell, he missed the last few tests for some reason, and if that keeps happening, who knows how this whole thing ends up.🤔

stormybadger8 said:And it’s not just that—they don't even have Nico Rosberg anymore...

The real question is how car development is going to suffer now that they're missing Rosberg, especially since Lewis Hamilton clearly isn't about to let things slide (at least from what we can see on the outside)...
From what I can tell, he missed the last few tests for some reason, and if that keeps happening, who knows how this whole thing ends up.🤔

Lewis Hamilton already has his mind set on Ferrari. I am convinced there is an 85% chance he moves there in 2018; I'll give him a 15% chance of heading back to McLaren, and a 0% chance of staying with Mercedes.

mellowtiger83 said:Lewis Hamilton already has his mind set on Ferrari. I am convinced there is an 85% chance he moves there in 2018; I'll give him a 15% chance of heading back to McLaren, and a 0% chance of staying with Mercedes.

Plus, both Ferrari and McLaren are going to be struggling next year, so I don't really see why Lewis would trade a championship contender for a total downgrade🙂

BTW Lewis Hamilton is under contract through the end of 2018.

neonfox65 said:Plus, both Ferrari and McLaren are going to be struggling next year, so I don't really see why Lewis would trade a championship contender for a total downgrade🙂

BTW Lewis Hamilton is under contract through the end of 2018.

So, what are you, Nostradamus?

How can you possibly know who will be competitive and who won't?

What does it matter if Lewis Hamilton has a contract? Nico Rosberg had one too.

And why are you convinced Red Bull will remain a powerhouse? History shows us that even Adrian Newey can miss the mark on a concept. Besides, they don't have a factory engine; they are reliant on Renault, and switching fuel suppliers isn't exactly helping their case. Max Verstappen can't carry them alone. He’s an alien, sure, but even he can't perform miracles if the car is fundamentally flawed.

mellowtiger83 said:So, what are you, Nostradamus?

How can you possibly know who will be competitive and who won't?

What does it matter if Lewis Hamilton has a contract? Nico Rosberg had one too.

And why are you convinced Red Bull will remain a powerhouse? History shows us that even Adrian Newey can miss the mark on a concept. Besides, they don't have a factory engine; they are reliant on Renault, and switching fuel suppliers isn't exactly helping their case. Max Verstappen can't carry them alone. He’s an alien, sure, but even he can't perform miracles if the car is fundamentally flawed.

Mercedes-Benz and Red Bull Racing are going to be the top dogs—everyone else will just be trailing behind them. I'd bet money on it... 😉

What does it matter if Lewis Hamilton has a contract? Nico Rosberg had one too, right?

I already explained this—are you even reading my posts? Nico Rosberg was fine with just one title, but Lewis Hamilton is all about chasing those records...

Why do you think Red Bull Racing is going to be such a powerhouse?

Just based on everything I've been reading. Do you actually check the news, or just this one forum?... 🙂

Really crossing my fingers that Fernando can find a way out of that McLaren contract 😁
...

I would truly love to see Fernando Alonso land a seat at Mercedes-Benz, but I fear that’s a long shot...

What Mercedes-Benz really requires is a reliable Number 2 driver, and frankly, Alonso isn't interested in playing second fiddle... Furthermore, while Lewis Hamilton might claim he doesn't care who joins the team, we have no idea what the specific terms of his contract actually entail... 🙂

As I recall, Paddy Lowe was over at McLaren back in 2007 during that massive scandal—the one that cost them a "mere" $100 million and the constructors' championship... It is possible he carries some influence in these decisions as well... 🙂

Someone like Jenson Button, or perhaps Felipe Massa, would be the perfect choice for a single season... They are seasoned point-scorers who could potentially snatch a win here and there once Lewis Hamilton secures the title, all while the team searches for a more permanent solution heading into 2018...
Bringing in a rookie is far too risky right now, especially with the new regulations looming; even Mercedes-Benz can't take the constructors' title for granted under those conditions...

Hasegawa—with Honda, a podium in 2017 is actually a realistic goal.

Look, Tibi, you can say what you want, but you’re still ranking McLaren above Mercedes-Benz... 🤣

neonfox65 said:

Hasegawa—with Honda, a podium in 2017 is actually a realistic goal.

Look, Tibi, you can say what you want, but you’re still ranking McLaren above Mercedes-Benz... 🤣

Those statements were just empty rhetoric, nothing more than hot air. Personally, I see them consistently sitting in the top six, always right there in the mix fighting for podium spots.

That Japanese engineer couldn't have said anything else after how the last two years played out. Don't sweat it, neonfox65; they’re going to be flying high.

I’ve got them ranked as the top three teams—provided Ferrari doesn't completely blow it...

Honestly, can we please just dial it back a little? I totally get wanting to see Mercedes-Benz at the front, but shouldn't we also be expecting some serious battles between at least three different teams?

You’ve always got to keep an eye on McLaren, too—they really deserve a shot at jumping into the fray. They've made some genuinely impressive strides this year.

At the end of the day, I'm just crossing my fingers for a season filled with plenty of different winners from all sorts of different teams.

neonfox65 said:

Hasegawa—with Honda, a podium in 2017 is actually a realistic goal.

Look, Tibi, you can say what you want, but you’re still ranking McLaren above Mercedes-Benz... 🤣

Man, these PR statements in the media are such a joke. 🤦

Remember how Ross Brawn was acting back at the start of 2009? He was out there basically saying, "We’re going to absolutely demolish the competition and leave Ferrari and McLaren eating our dust on the track."
Remember those bold claims coming out of Mercedes-Benz before 2014?

And right before the first lap, we had to listen to all that noise from McLaren and Honda claiming they were going to fight for the title, not to mention Sergio Perez's endless rambling about how Ferrari would just stroll to a championship in 2016. 😁

And you're still out here swallowing every word those PR departments and marketing hacks feed the media. Seriously?

stormybadger8 said:Man, these PR statements in the media are such a joke. 🤦

Remember how Ross Brawn was acting back at the start of 2009? He was out there basically saying, "We’re going to absolutely demolish the competition and leave Ferrari and McLaren eating our dust on the track."
Remember those bold claims coming out of Mercedes-Benz before 2014?

And right before the first lap, we had to listen to all that noise from McLaren and Honda claiming they were going to fight for the title, not to mention Sergio Perez's endless rambling about how Ferrari would just stroll to a championship in 2016. 😁

And you're still out here swallowing every word those PR departments and marketing hacks feed the media. Seriously?

So you're actually telling me Honda is going to be fighting for wins? Heh...