Silly Season speculation

[AndyL]

By the way, TJ13 is considering it almost certain that Button will be replaced by Vandoorne in 2016.

thejudge13.com claims that italiaracing.net claims that their "sources" indicate that... I love these Chinese whispers.

[jens]

Personally I think Vandoorne should definitely be in F1 next year. The next big thing, as the saying goes, and has done all that is possible to do (now dominating GP2). It almost doesn't matter, at whose expense he would be in F1, but that he would be there. Oh, and in a better team than Manor please.

[rjbetty]

Personally I think Vandoorne should definitely be in F1 next year. The next big thing, as the saying goes, and has done all that is possible to do (now dominating GP2). It almost doesn't matter, at whose expense he would be in F1, but that he would be there. Oh, and in a better team than Manor please.

Yep surely he simply has to make it to a seat. I would actually like to see him start at Manor. Daniel Ricciardo said his stint at HRT did him a world of good, and I think it would be the same for Vandoorne. Plus I would like to see Jenson have 1 more year with McLaren using his skills, and I think he should get 1 more chance to get some decent results next year when I expect McLaren to have the year they should have had this year i.e. 5th best team. Then Vandoorne can take over.

But what about Kevin Magnussen? Could his career really be over already? He will be forgotten if he doesn't get a seat next year. A shame as I think he did a good job for someone so inexperienced last year, and I think he is absolutely able to drive around Hulkenberg level if not maybe more. I'd like to see him at Force India if Hulkenberg moves, but I think they would go for Wehrlein in that case. Pascal has already done testing for FI and Merc would probably discount the engines if they ran him.

Another driver who deserves a 2nd chance is Jean-Eric Vergne. I hope he gets a drive at Haas.

Then there's the Button to Williams rumours. While at any other time I would find this fantastic to see Jenson return to the team he started, just like Frentzen in 2003, I would be unhappy to see it at Hulkenberg's expense.

What's going on with Red Bull and their engines? If they get a Merc deal, that would probably be occasional challenges for wins, with some good podiums at least. I think it's slightly more likely they will finish their final year of their Renault contract though, and 2017 is more likely for a change. In this case, an improvement for 2016 but not much more.

And what is happening at Lotus? Rumours are that Renault may be about to re-but the team. That would surely mean a return to the unloved Renault engines and a step back again, but it could be Maldonado may get the boot if Renault want one of their drivers in, especially if his money finally runs out. In this case, I wouldn't mind Vergne taking this seat, but am not sure how likely that is.

Are Manor going to get a Honda engine? I think it would only be worth it if they were free, or much cheaper than Ferrari.

My Provisional 2016 line-up could be like this


MERCEDES: Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg
FERRARI: Sebastian Vettel, Valtteri Bottas
WILLIAMS - MERCEDES: Felipe Massa, Nico Hulkenberg
RED BULL - RENAULT: Daniel Ricciardo, Daniil Kvyat
FORCE INDIA - MERCEDES: Sergio Perez, Pascal Wehrlein
RENAULT: Romain Grosjean, RENAULT DRIVER 2
TORO ROSSO - RENAULT: Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz
MCLAREN - HONDA: Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button
SAUBER - FERRARI: Felipe Nasr, Marcus Ericsson
MANOR - HONDA: Stoffel Vandoorne, MANOR DRIVER 2 (maybe Stevens again)
HAAS - FERRARI: Esteban Gutierrez, Jean-Eric Vergne

[The Black Knight]

I strongly suspect Mia's panties need to be changed right now

http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/...raikkonen-2016

[f1kid1987]

I strongly suspect Mia's panties need to be changed right now

http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/...raikkonen-2016

Sad for me to say but if Button doesn't perform for the last part of the season, this season might well be his last in F1, bottas is sure to stay at Williams now

[Mia 01]

Yes, yes, yes, whoooooa. Kimi will drive for Ferrari next year!!!!!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report...954.1413964422

[Tazio]

The likable Finn gets one more shot at redemption, really didn't expect that! May the Forza be with him!

[The Black Knight]

The likable Finn gets one more shot at redemption, really didn't expect that! May the Forza be with him!

I did really. Ferrari have never wanted a driver in their team that will challenge their number one and unless Kimi rediscovers his speed cirqua mid 2000's, I can't see him challenging Vettel

[Tazio]

I did really. Ferrari have never wanted a driver in their team that will challenge their number one and unless Kimi rediscovers his speed cirqua mid 2000's, I can't see him challenging Vettel

Good point, I guess I got sucked in by all the Bottas hype!

[zako85]

I honestly believe that Hülkenberg is a fine driver, but a rather overrated one and short of the level that is required at a top team, unless you're looking for a No. 2 driver à la Barrichello or Massa. Although, to be absolutely honest, I would put Bottas just in the same category, judging by the fact that Massa and him have been quite close.

I'd disagree. Massa has a decade of F1 experience, while Bottas is in his third full time season. In his very first full time season he managed to beat Maldonado, who had a lot more experience. It's very rare to see a new guy to come in and beat a well established driver outright in the first season. Vettel did, Hamilton did, but they are arguably the best two drivers of our time.