F1 news - Nico Rosberg retires

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Originally Posted by Kunama

Rosberg and Hamilton used identical engines, it is hardly Rosberg's fault if Hamilton's driving style destroys engines......

That one I don't subscribe to. The last time I could see that really being notably the case was back in the BAR Honda days where Button cruised on race after race where Sato had engine failure after engine failure.

Give people identical cars and identical engines and still they will have different things go wrong with them. They are designed after all to be completely buggered at the end of their required life, it is only a tiny irregularity in something away from an unexpected failure. Any other design concept than to be utterly worn out at the end of the required life requires added weight or reduced performance.

[Andy01 (Andy)]

My 2C says Bottas gets the MB drive. MB payout Williams, loan them Werhlein & Bottas inks a #2 driver contract. He's quick enough to win if Lewis blows yet another donk, but compliant enough to stay behind him.
Outside chance is Perez for the same reasons.
Just mu opinion but I never had any time for Nico - he was easily hosed by Webber in the same machinery at Williams, and only "won" because Lewis' engine failed repeatedly.

[gary]

The attached advertisement below appeared in the Dec 8th edition of
Autosport magazine.

Niki Lauda has indicated a replacement decision may not be made until the
end of January but there are increasing rumours that Bottas might be
the replacement for Roseberg if Massa were to come out of retirement
and re-join Williams.

[clive milne]

And there is also the sweetener of allowing Paddy Lowe to commence employment at Williams without serving the contractually obligated period of 'gardening leave" .. ergo, I'd say Bottas is a shoe in.

Sad to say that it shows just how far Williams F1 has fallen from the top of the pecking order. crumb collectors.

[julianh72 (Julian)]

The current rumour mill says Bottas is going to Mercedes, and Massa is coming back out of retirement to act as senior driver for Williams in 2017.

That would make his retirement (4 weeks) only slightly longer than Rosberg's stint as defending World Champion (5 days)!