Alvin's Formula One Blog

Ok since the end of the season there's been many changes, not least Nico Rosberg retiring. UPDATED as of 5 December 2016. As Renault confirms Jolyon Palmer for a second season, seven seats are still officially vacant. Today's news that Renault will retain Jolyon Palmer for a second season, alongside new boy Nico Hulkenberg, sees another piece of the 2017 jigsaw fall into place. Usually reliable sources also claim that Kevin Magnussen is heading to Haas and it has been confirmed . While neither deal is any great surprise, it is worth a moment to examine why these two have retained their places on the F1 grid for next season, despite a season without many points finishes. Magnussen is in his second season of F1, while Palmer was a rookie this season. The Dane has scored seven points in total with Top Ten results in Russia and Singapore, while Palmer has just one point to his name from Malaysia. Magnussen is ahead in qualifying, but it’s fair to say that not many F1 commen...

As Nico Hulkenberg leaves Force India for Renault, 11 seats have yet to be officially confirmed for 2017. Indeed, the German, who had an existing contract with Force India for 2017, is proof that even if a contract is in place those numerous clauses contained in it mean nothing can be taken for granted until the cars line up on the grid in Melbourne, though in Sauber’s case… While Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren have confirmed their 2017 line-ups, a number of teams have only nominated one driver thus far, while four, including Williams, have yet to officially confirm either of their drivers. Though Valtteri Bottas is likely to remain with Williams, it is known that Renault is eyeing the Finn whose rise appears to have faltered somewhat this season. While Canadian youngster Lance Stroll is expected to fill one of the seats at Grove, due to the team's sponsorship by drinks giant Martini no announcement can be made before he turns 18 later this month, the Saturday of the...