Bottas to Mercedes F1 Team

[Andy01 (Andy)]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report...ns-to-williams

Picked that move a day after Nico retired.
Good news for Bottas, he'll be up against Lewis though.
Hopefully the Red Bull & Ferrari teams can catch up too!

Bring on Melbourne in March

[Somnium (Aidan)]

worst kept secret in F1

[BeanerSA (Paul)]

And Massa back out of retirement!

[gary]

Thanks Andy,

It would be interesting to know what price-break Williams might have
struck for the Mercedes engines in return.

As I understand it, the new rules in 2017 now only allow for four power units per
driver this year.

[Andy01 (Andy)]

Originally Posted by gary

Thanks Andy,

It would be interesting to know what price-break Williams might have
struck for the Mercedes engines in return.

Discounted engines from MB, and include the appointment of Paddy Lowe to Williams from MB, and Massa's wages for a comeback year - it must have been a VERY complicated negotiation, no wonder it took so long!

[gary]

Originally Posted by Andy01

Discounted engines from MB, and include the appointment of Paddy Lowe to Williams from MB, and Massa's wages for a comeback year - it must have been a VERY complicated negotiation, no wonder it took so long!

So as long as Toto Wolff was there, I guess Lowe had no where to go
at Mercedes in that he could not become the team principal?

Astroron had mentioned to me on the telephone last week that there
were rumours of Claire Williams making a management shift within the team,
so perhaps she will move aside to clear the path for Lowe to step into
her shoes as team principal?

[clive milne]

I think part of the deal was a waiver on the requirement for Paddy Lowe to take a year's gardening leave... he can now start straight away.

Wherlein is also confirmed at Sauber... not sure if that was part of the negations or not?

Interesting to note that Mercedes acknowledge that they tried to get Ricciardo or Max, but the contracts were bulletproof.

At any rate, I suspect Bottas is a happy camper at the moment. It will be interesting to see how the relationship with the Hamster develops. Lewis no doubt is still sporting a chapped derrière and will have a point to prove this season.

[Exfso (Peter)]

It is indeed going to be a very interesting 2017 F1 season. Roll on Australia race 1 in March..

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by Exfso

It is indeed going to be a very interesting 2017 F1 season. Roll on Australia race 1 in March..

+1 ... We have booked for 4 days as well as a recovery day down there in Mexico City....