Salo: "Williams has put together hungry lineup"

You say that but I’m sure there are those that having arrived in F1, probably their life goal, just circulate around keeping their noses clean. Then there is Max..

Like whom? Aside from maybe Räikkönen, I dont really think there are many.

This is the youngest grid we've ever had in history. I think they are all pretty hungry. As @CALLE.ITW said, other than Raikkonen.

The Hulk, Grosjean, Magnussen, Ericsson, Massa yes and Raikkonen all drove around like it was Sunday afternoon on occasions (which it was, but you know what I mean). Hulkenberg not so much, but their work rate was pretty slow a lot of the time. It must be frustrating if you feel you’ve reached the limit of the car or that you’ve been paid so there’s no point in stirring things up and there’s that great party to go to afterwards. Hunger in racing is fighting for every yard for the entire race. Champions do it naturally, like Max from the getgo, and if you watched Senna race, he was ALWAYS hungry and claimed every bit of tarmac as HIS! but all you can find is a bunch of drivers ‘following team orders’ and whining on the radio. I’d love to see more ‘hunger’ back on the F1 grid.

I can see Gro, Mas, Räi and Eri, but Hulk and KMag? I dont think the difference between Hulk and Palmer was just down to Pal's incompetence, and KMag, while perhaps not exactly driving well, really seemed to push either himself or his car to the limit (while taking someone else with to the limit every now and then ;). The main thing I felt limited drivers like Hulk was the car. I think in terms of drivers wanting to push, this was a good year, but in terms of drivers unable to push due to unreliability, this was probably one of the worst years as of recent along with 2014 and 2015.

For me, Stroll really has to step up his game this year for me to stop seeing him as the worse driver on the grid. I think Sirotkin will surprise, and be faster than expected. But since Stroll is at Williams, I have to say that Toro Rosso has the better line-up out of the two. Gasly won GP2 and did well in Super Formula, he had a shot at the title had not the last race been cancelled. Hartley has won the WEC twice if I'm not mistaken, so he's quite capable as well. I'm looking forward to what the Toro Rosso boys and Sirotkin will do this year.

@Kean I agree, but I expect the Honda engine to seriously hamper Toro Rosso.

Im not as sure, @APENNYJACKER, but it'll no doubt be interesting to see. Its no doubt a season to look forward to.

For sure, Williams hasnt been able to keep up what they had in 2015. They've profitted multiple years in a row. Now invest those money into the team and step it up, or be consumed.

Not sure if you can blame everything on the car. The drivers weren't the best over the last couple of years. If the like of RIC/HAM/VES was in that Williams it would go a hell of a lot faster.

Let's hope Williams has a good year.

I think Williams still has some properly 'hungry' engineers. But this is a corporation first and a racing them fourth or fifth. They manage the team like a pet project. When they come up with a good car they sabotage themselves in the name of cost cutting, or for some pay-driver.

Yeah, its about time they start spending.

@Racetown I understand the patriotic duty to defend Lance, but I don't think many people would describe Lance's performance in 2017 as "amazing." He did a couple of very good races: Baku and Monza. Baku was mostly good luck, Monza was all merit. Other than that he was largely out-qualified and outraced by an average driver way past his prime. That being said, I'd love for Stroll to have very good 2018. I'd love for F1 to have a Canadian star once again. But if 2017 is any indication my hopes are not too high.

Lance has to improve qualification IMO. The importance of qualification will stay very high at least until there is next major aero regulation change.