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His last two starts were definite improvements, here's hoping!. First step was getting pole and he's done that.
Tony.
Tony.
What are the odds?.......
Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff admits that Nico Rosberg's decision to retire took him completely by surprise - but it is only the start of his problems.
So who will be on Wolff's shortlist and how likely are they to get the seat?
Fernando Alonso: Chances of it happening: 6/10
Daniel Ricciardo: Chances: 6/10
Max Verstappen: Chances: 4/10
Sebastian Vettel: Chances of it happening: 8/10
Valtteri Bottas: Chances: 9/10
Pascal Wehrlein: Chances: 8/10
Esteban Ocon: Chances: 7/10
Paul di Resta: Chances: 5/10
Jenson Button: Chances: 1/10
Nico Hulkenberg: Chances: 2/10
Verstappen is the big rising star of F1.
Wolff would be very interested but, like Ricciardo, Verstappen is under contract to Red Bull - in his case to the end of 2019. And Red Bull are even more in love with the Dutchman than they are with Ricciardo.
Daniel Ricciardo, Wolff is a big fan. The on-track battle with Hamilton would be intense. if Wolff approached them there is just the possibility that they may consider selling Ricciardo. Why? Because most accept that, long term, Ricciardo and Max Verstappen is not a sustainable line-up - if Red Bull become title contenders their relationship is very likely to become incendiary.
Fernando Alonso, Wolff knows that the problems he had with Hamilton and Rosberg would pale compared to the potential difficulties of handling Hamilton and Alonso.
Sebastian Vettel, he might not fancy going up against Hamilton. Vettel and Hamilton together is almost as much of a recipe for trouble as Hamilton and Alonso.
Paul di Resta, a left-field choice, the Scot has been out of F1 for two years now.
Nico Hulkenberg, the German has just signed a three-year deal with Renault and Wolff is not overly enamoured with him either.
Esteban Ocon, another Mercedes young driver
Pascal Wehrlein, the German is the obvious choice - he is Mercedes' reserve driver.
MotoGP racer Valentino Rossi has surprisingly put his name forward to replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, saying "how could I say no?".
Felipe Nasr has indicated he will wait for clarity regarding his future in F1. The Brazilian looked set to lose his place at Sauber for 2017 to Pascal Wehrlein but the German is now in the frame to replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes.
Esteban Ocon has not been approached to fill the driver's position vacated by Rosberg. The Force India driver has been one of many names linked with a move to the constructor but Force India chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer believes Mercedes boss Toto Wolf could do worse than recruit Jenson Button.
Former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger believes newly retired Nico Rosberg could make a comeback into the sport when boredom sets in.
Meanwhile, Rosberg has dismissed claims he could make a comeback in the future, after ex-F1 driver Gerhard Berger said he would get "bored" in retirement.
World champion Nico Rosberg has responded to Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda, who said Rosberg's quit left the team looking "dumb".
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says Rosberg will not be remembered as a legend of the sport and that he "would just call Nico a world champion and nothing else"
Red Bull......
Red Bull racer Max Verstappen says he doesn't "care about other opinions" after having been criticised for his driving style during the 2016 season.
Felipe Nasr has indicated he will wait for clarity regarding his future in F1. The Brazilian looked set to lose his place at Sauber for 2017 to Pascal Wehrlein but the German is now in the frame to replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes.
Esteban Ocon has not been approached to fill the driver's position vacated by Rosberg. The Force India driver has been one of many names linked with a move to the constructor but Force India chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer believes Mercedes boss Toto Wolf could do worse than recruit Jenson Button.
Former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger believes newly retired Nico Rosberg could make a comeback into the sport when boredom sets in.
Meanwhile, Rosberg has dismissed claims he could make a comeback in the future, after ex-F1 driver Gerhard Berger said he would get "bored" in retirement.
World champion Nico Rosberg has responded to Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda, who said Rosberg's quit left the team looking "dumb".
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says Rosberg will not be remembered as a legend of the sport and that he "would just call Nico a world champion and nothing else"
Red Bull......
Red Bull racer Max Verstappen says he doesn't "care about other opinions" after having been criticised for his driving style during the 2016 season.
Bernie Ecclestone confirms his 40-year reign as F1 chief is over as Liberty Media complete £6bn takeover
Excited about Ross brawn being in charge
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Indeed. Early days yet but a race where any number of drivers could win would really spruce it up. And I'd win Badger GP as all my predictions were random twaddle
My problem was remembering to do my predictions.......................even then they were twaddle... I'd win Badger GP as all my predictions were random twaddle
Lets see what Bottas can do with his Merc this season eh...
Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein was given medical advice to skip the first pre-season test with a back issue following a crash in January.
The 22-year-old German, who raced for the now-defunct Manor team in 2016,rolled his car after a collision with Williams driver Felipe Massa at the Race of Champions in Miami.
Saturday, 18 February
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WILLIAMS RACING
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Our 2017 challenger - the Williams Mercedes #FW40 - will be officially launched on February 25th #WeAreRacing #Williams40
Williams have unveiled their 2017 F1 car - the FW40, named to celebrate 40 years since the team was founded.
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WILLIAMS RACING @WilliamsRacingOur 2017 challenger - the Williams Mercedes #FW40 - will be officially launched on February 25th #WeAreRacing #Williams40
Williams have unveiled their 2017 F1 car - the FW40, named to celebrate 40 years since the team was founded.
New Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas says he has always wanted a team-mate as quick as Lewis Hamilton.
Retired F1 champion Nico Rosberg warns his Mercedes replacement Valtteri Bottas not to expect an easy ride from team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Incoming Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas says that it is "possible" he could beat new team-mate Lewis Hamilton, but admits that he has "a lot to prove".
Former F1 driver Alex Zanardi does not believe Rosberg's replacement at Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas, can challenge Hamilton in 2017.
Nico Rosberg says he is keen to rebuild his friendship with Lewis Hamilton now he has retired from Formula 1.
Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda says teams will not hide their new cars' true pace in the final pre-season test before the first grand prix of 2017.
Haas chief Gene Haas says he originally wanted his new Formula 1 team to be a full constructor before deciding to partner with Ferrari.
Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery says it won't be the manufacturer's fault if the tyres don't improve the sport, saying "we deliver what we have been asked to deliver".
Lewis Hamilton says he has the 'best' working relationship with Valtteri Bottas
Lewis enjoying first weeks alongside new Mercedes team-mate
Lewis Hamilton's F1 team-mates
Driver Team Years
Fernando Alonso McLaren 2007
Heikki Kovalainen McLaren 2008-2009
Jenson Button McLaren 2010-2012
Nico Rosberg Mercedes 2013-2016
Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 2017
Lewis enjoying first weeks alongside new Mercedes team-mate
Lewis Hamilton's F1 team-mates
Driver Team Years
Fernando Alonso McLaren 2007
Heikki Kovalainen McLaren 2008-2009
Jenson Button McLaren 2010-2012
Nico Rosberg Mercedes 2013-2016
Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 2017
Shark fins spoil 2017 F1 car designs, says Red Bull's Christian Horner
Red Bull's Horner hopes teams agree to outlaw them for 2018.
The shark fin-shaped engine cover on the striking Toro Rosso
Red Bull chief Christian Horner believes the reappearance of shark fin engine covers on F1 cars lets the otherwise "fantastic" 2017 designs down.
F1's rulemakers deliberately set out to make the 2017 cars more aggressive and attractive for fans, with initial verdicts on the new-look challengers generally proving positive.
However, the return of shark fin-shaped engine covers, designed to help channel air flow to the rear wing, after several years have split opinion with all 10 teams having now run them in testing.
Red Bull's Horner hopes teams agree to outlaw them for 2018.
The shark fin-shaped engine cover on the striking Toro Rosso
Red Bull chief Christian Horner believes the reappearance of shark fin engine covers on F1 cars lets the otherwise "fantastic" 2017 designs down.
F1's rulemakers deliberately set out to make the 2017 cars more aggressive and attractive for fans, with initial verdicts on the new-look challengers generally proving positive.
However, the return of shark fin-shaped engine covers, designed to help channel air flow to the rear wing, after several years have split opinion with all 10 teams having now run them in testing.
Lewis Hamilton welcomes idea for new F1 weekend format
Hamilton agrees with Brawn over weekend format and says of Liberty Media: "It's great they are coming up with new ideas."
Lewis Hamilton has welcomed Ross Brawn's suggestion F1 should stage a non-championship race to experiment with new formats.
Brawn, recently appointed as managing director of F1 by new owners Liberty Media, raised the idea.
"That doesn't sound like a terrible idea!" Hamilton responded. "A new format is definitely needed for Formula 1.
Thursday to Sunday has been the same for the last 11 years."
One possibility is that the non-championship event itself would see teams compete for prize money but not points.
But it's the opportunity for the sport to change its traditional format which most appeals to Hamilton.
Hamilton agrees with Brawn over weekend format and says of Liberty Media: "It's great they are coming up with new ideas."
Lewis Hamilton has welcomed Ross Brawn's suggestion F1 should stage a non-championship race to experiment with new formats.
Brawn, recently appointed as managing director of F1 by new owners Liberty Media, raised the idea.
"That doesn't sound like a terrible idea!" Hamilton responded. "A new format is definitely needed for Formula 1.
Thursday to Sunday has been the same for the last 11 years."
One possibility is that the non-championship event itself would see teams compete for prize money but not points.
But it's the opportunity for the sport to change its traditional format which most appeals to Hamilton.
with success ballast based on that drivers current championship standing! That would open it up a bit!