F1 drivers silly season - PEREZ Holds the key

 

With Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull all having decided on their drivers for 2017,
the traditional Formula 1 "silly season" is now focussed on the next best teams in
the sport: Williams F1 and Force India. Both teams use Mercedes-Benz engines but
Force India uses a Mercedes transmission, while Williams develops its own, which is
also supplied to Manor this year. Williams has been more consistent and so going
into the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, the team had 96 points to Force India's 81,
but the momentum has clearly been with the smaller team, which has outscored
Williams in recent races. Force India has said that it will keep the same drivers in
2017, but Sergio Perez did point out that he would do what his sponsors want him
to do. Staying at Force India is obviously an option but the team is still tight for
money, not least because of the troubles that have befallen its owners, both of
whom are in trouble with the Indian authorities.

Subrata Roy needs to pay around $45 million before September 16 if he is to extend his release from prison, where he was held for more than two years because of a dispute with the Securities and
Exchange Board of India, while Vijay Mallya remains under investigation by a variety
of different agencies and refuses return home to face the music, arguing that he will not be given a fair hearing. 

The Indian government is
seeking his extradition from the UK. He is not
allowed by law to hold any passport other
than an Indian one, unless he renounces
his citizenship. The team's financial future
is not clear despite its healthy prize money
and money from Perez and other sponsors.
However, Williams would like to hire Perez
because he is quick and well-supported
and it needs to bolster its budget.
Signing Perez would be a winning deal
for Williams because it would help
secure more money for the future and
weaken Force India at the same time.
Force India argues that it is a better bet than
Williams because it has a better technical
team, but Williams is not Perez's only option
because Renault is keen to get him as well.
And that is quite attractive to Perez because a
manufacturer team has more potential
in the long-term. Renault has a lot
to do, but there is potential for the
team to become a winner again in
the future and Sergio would then
be in a good place. Mexico is a
key market for Renault and Perez
is a huge name at home. 

It is a fairlycompelling proposition for both parties. That would probably mean that Jolyon Palmer would be dropped by Renault, while Kevin Magnussen could be retained. Renault might like to hire Esteban Ocon, but there is no real point for the French team to help develop a Mercedes contracted driver. Now that Ocon is racing for Manor, he could move up next year to Force India (with the support of Mercedes), while Pascal Wehrlein is in a similar position. The contest between Wehrlein and Ocon will be important because it will reveal which of the two Mercedes youngsters is the best bet for the long-term. Williams is likely to hold on to Valtteri Bottas for 2017, but Felipe Massa's future is looking fairly bleak at the moment. Felipe Nasr would love to take over the drive,
but finding money in Brazil is not easy given the financial and political problems.

Source: JSMB Newsletter