and AFTER most all the contracts have been signed...
Heh, true that, one of my first thoughts as well. Nico wants to quit, OK. Wonder what his contract says (probably has some bail-out clause, I know I would’ve put that in there).
Whom does Mercedes have at hand to fill the spot? Wehrlein is probably not ready yet (ignoring repeated team orders to shut down the engine after he got beached a few races ago in free practice should make a big dent in his prospects - I wouldn’t promote him at this time), and other drivers are likely tied down for 2017 by contracts as well.
What’s Mika Hakkinen doing these days, btw? Still running Mercedes TV ads? :-) Schumi jr. with a bolster seat?