OT: Racing 2016 (Spoiler Alert)

[Dave]

Williams will be left in a very tough spot if they release Bottas to Mercedes. The thought of a potential Wehrlein/Stroll combination doesn't inspire much confidence going into all-new regulations, even though I think Wehrlein has a lot of talent (so does he, just ask him).

[pk500]

Williams will be left in a very tough spot if they release Bottas to Mercedes. The thought of a potential Wehrlein/Stroll combination doesn't inspire much confidence going into all-new regulations, even though I think Wehrlein has a lot of talent (so does he, just ask him).

A Williams release of Bottas - for a cart full of Euros or a cheap deal on its Mercedes engine - is further indication that the once-proud, championship-winning team is sinking toward becoming just another bottom feeder trolling for pay drivers.

[GB_Simo]

The latest rumour, which I'm coming across in too many places to dismiss, is that Williams are in talks with this chap about a 2017 drive and will let Valtteri make his merry way to Brackley if they can sign him:

[pk500]

Not a bad idea. Felipe can be an elder statesman and role model for $troll while providing safe hands and essential Constructor points for Willys.

[Rodster]

Good for Felipe, a quality person and driver. He was the 2008 World Champion for less than 10 seconds.

[pk500]

Good for Felipe, a quality person and driver. He was the 2008 World Champion for less than 10 seconds.

Still the most dramatic F1 race I can remember in the last 15 years. What an afternoon at Interlagos. And Massa showed more class amid utter despair that day than I've seen from almost any other sportsman. He'll always be a top-notch dude in my book after that day.

[GB_Simo]

Still the most dramatic F1 race I can remember in the last 15 years. What an afternoon at Interlagos. And Massa showed more class amid utter despair that day than I've seen from almost any other sportsman. He'll always be a top-notch dude in my book after that day.

I'm not capable of talking about Felipe Massa without using the phrase, "Every home should have one." He just seems like a fundamentally lovely bloke.

None of which justifies his possible selection for 2017, of course, but that he retains a decent turn of speed and still harbours a desire to race both count in his favour. Having a known quantity to use as a benchmark for Stroll couldn't hurt either.

[Rodster]

People in the F1 world quickly forget how good Felipe has been throughout his career. He was always pitted against the best and always hung in there even beating his teammates. His one knock which i'm sure he regrets because he jokingly brings it up was allowing Ferrari to have him pull over for Capt Morgan. That hurt him as a driver and he was never the same at Ferrari. Some say it was the suspension piece from Rubens car in Hungary but I don't think so because he came back strong in his first race the following year in Bahrain where he finished 2nd behind Alonso.

I think that also played on Max Verstappen when he was asked to let Carlos Sainz thru and forcefully said "NO".

[GB_Simo]

It has been said, mainly by Rob Smedley, that Felipe did not have what Fernando had during the later years of his Ferrari spell. Viewed in retrospect, this would go some way to explaining why he suddenly started to shift like a greased eel at the back end of 2012, when Ferrari presumably realised that Alonso stood a better chance of the title if he had a tail gunner up there with him.

Multiple sources now reporting that Massa to Williams is a done deal, as long as Bottas goes to Mercedes, which he will.

[DChaps]

This is a pretty cool 8 bit 2016 F1 season review:

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/2016/ ... eview.html

[pk500]

This is a pretty cool 8 bit 2016 F1 season review:

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/2016/ ... eview.html

An 8-bit season review is SO fitting considering F1's draconian digital policies are trapped in the late 1980s. New F1 owners Liberty Media have placed moving F1 into the 21st digital century a priority, thank God. We might even get pay streaming of F1 races and race broadcasts posted on a delayed basis on YouTube -- GASP!

[Rodster]

Paddy Lowe is on gardening leave with Mercedes as reports say he's on his way to Williams. Ferrari could have had his services but they think they need MORE Italians running the team. Even Bernie is calling out Ferrari saying it's not in their DNA to run a team.

The other story is that Formula One could lose Silverstone because they're losing money but Bernie says stop complaining.