Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes
Discussion
Why would they announce something like that? It's just so tacky. Love Island is back on TV soon if you want some manufactured drama.
All signs point to Russell being in the Merc next year, but I don't think they would be so unseemly as to announce it to the World completely unnecessarily. Nothing is stopping them from having conversations with Russell, and Bottas, behind closed doors, and reaching an amicable decision one way or the other privately.
All signs point to Russell being in the Merc next year, but I don't think they would be so unseemly as to announce it to the World completely unnecessarily. Nothing is stopping them from having conversations with Russell, and Bottas, behind closed doors, and reaching an amicable decision one way or the other privately.
sparta6 said:
Teddy Lop said:
He needs to think about that when admonishing his team in public. They didn't make a barichello or a Irvine etc etc out of him.
True. Bottas never came within 1 point of bagging the WDCMuzzer79 said:
sparta6 said:
Teddy Lop said:
He needs to think about that when admonishing his team in public. They didn't make a barichello or a Irvine etc etc out of him.
True. Bottas never came within 1 point of bagging the WDCTeddy Lop said:
He's had a 5 year run in a car that was never less than championship capable and at times dominant and more importantly has been permitted to fight on equal terms against his team mate. (Yes as the championship has taken form the team's needs have taken precedent a few times but not before his own in season performance dictated such). Besides the misfortune of finding his time in that car alongside the guy people are continually arguing is the greatest person to hop into a racing car, there is nothing to feel sorry for him about. He's had a stupendous opportunity and I bet there's a list of drivers of some pedigree that'd trade places in a heartbeat.
He needs to think about that when admonishing his team in public. They didn't make a barichello or a Irvine etc etc out of him.
DC is man enough to admit that he was given every opportunity at McLaren but was just not quick enough against Mika. He needs to think about that when admonishing his team in public. They didn't make a barichello or a Irvine etc etc out of him.
Valtteri is a good guy and will perform at his best for the rest of his contract. Equally, I feel sure that Toto will do whatever he can to ease him into the best drive available. Everyone concerned will know what is coming, it is how the team tends to operate. Firm, but fair.
Teddy Lop said:
He's had a 5 year run in a car that was never less than championship capable and at times dominant and more importantly has been permitted to fight on equal terms against his team mate. (Yes as the championship has taken form the team's needs have taken precedent a few times but not before his own in season performance dictated such). Besides the misfortune of finding his time in that car alongside the guy people are continually arguing is the greatest person to hop into a racing car, there is nothing to feel sorry for him about. He's had a stupendous opportunity and I bet there's a list of drivers of some pedigree that'd trade places in a heartbeat.
Whilst that's all true, up until very recently he's done everything asked of him. He might have had and perhaps still does have illusions of winning championships, but he has lacked that killer instinct to rise above his station. The thing is, Mercedes - and I'd argue Hamilton as well - are, or at least have been for several years, perfectly happy with that. They know intimately what having two "I'm number one" drivers does to them, and both Hamilton and Rosberg unsettled eachother - to the detriment of the team.Bottas has done enough year on year to ensure Mercedes wins the WCCs, and hasn't really kicked up much of a fuss whilst doing it. From Mercedes perspective he's basically been a perfect team mate to Hamilton, who surely has been the odds on favourite each year to get preferential treatment as the championship has unfolded. No one would openly admit that, of course, and Hamilton has done his part to puff up Bottas - because he knows he's not a credible threat, unlike Rosberg. Hamilton knows that he has no internal competition.
If RBR hadn't brought a compelling car this year then Bottas just plugging away would've been perfectly fine and likely these discussions about Russell etc wouldn't loom anywhere near as large as they have been.
Doesn't matter when the public find out. Bottas will be pushing to know his Mercedes future ASAP so he has time to sort another drive (not necessarily in F1 and assuming he doesn't retire from driving). From his demeanor this season I get the impression he's already been told he isn't in the seat next year. In which case he needs to drive to impress potential employers, rather than sulk around the race track at 150mph.
SmoothCriminal said:
I don't see what logic there is for merc to announce Russel so early, surely that will just run the risk of demotivating bottas and risking the wcc for 21
It's better for Bottas because he has more time to look for other drives - if he wants one - before all the good seats get tied up into contracts. And I'm not only talking about Formula 1 seats.It's also better for Williams. A seat is now open. They can openly look for a driver to fill it.
Finally, it means they don't have to worry about somehow keeping a secret in the paddock while the rumour mill is going crazy and announcing the change in their own way rather than in Mercedes Benz's way. So they control a story which would get out regardless because a) they've likely told Bottas by now (unless it's Lewis retiring) so if he starts looking for a seat for next year he'll have to tell people he's available and b) if they don't tell Bottas himself until the end of the year, as an employer frankly that's the worst thing they could do for him. Worse even than letting him go right now.
That would be similar to how Bottas got the Merc seat in the first place. Nico announced his retirement only after the end of the season with no warning, so Mercedes had no backup plan for the second seat. Despite Toto's rhetoric, they were happy to carry on with the Nico and Lewis show. By the time they knew they needed a driver, most of their options were tied up in contracts. Bottas was the best of the few available. Even hiring Bottas meant Williams suddenly pulled Massa out of retirement, if I recall.
G0ldfysh said:
mat205125 said:
All fairly close on weight given the different heights95 fiesta si said:
Defo worthy of a a seat in F1, but should that be in the best modern day F1 car.....just cant see it.
Slightly off topic, but is your comment above the problem with F1?There seems to be maybe four absolute driving Gods on the grid, with the rest falling into either extremely capable, (Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz), or very, very good but are likely never to be a superstar, (Lance Stroll for example).
I know that money talks just as loudly as talent, but I sometimes wonder if F1 would be better if only the absolute best made it there?
I’ve lost count of the number of amazing talents I’ve seen get to F3 / F3000 and run out of money.
That being said though, even the worst of the grid today is a hell of a lot better than some of the characters we’ve seen trying to get on to the grid in years gone by.
sparta6 said:
Muzzer79 said:
sparta6 said:
Teddy Lop said:
He needs to think about that when admonishing his team in public. They didn't make a barichello or a Irvine etc etc out of him.
True. Bottas never came within 1 point of bagging the WDC
I believe your previously-posted words were along the lines of
"Why should I do your research for you? Prove it yourself"
I would think VB has a few options next year if not retained. Alpha tory may thing we need experience instead of faffing about with crash happy teenagers or Williams helped along by the new rules giving them downforce they couldn't find for themselves,
Verstappen to formula E,anythings possible.
The future looks bright.
Verstappen to formula E,anythings possible.
The future looks bright.
LP670 said:
If Bottas is out of the Merc next season the only seats i could imagine that would be up for grabs are the Williams (swap with George Russel) and Sauber (Raikonnen retirement maybe?).
There's 6 drivers out of contract next year I believe. And none of those are in top seats. Apart from Bottas own deal. Red Bull have already said publicly their second seat won't be available so it looks like Perez will get an extension, Mclaren are tied up, Ferrari are tied up, Alpine are tied up, Aston Martin also tied up for next year. DanielSan said:
LP670 said:
If Bottas is out of the Merc next season the only seats i could imagine that would be up for grabs are the Williams (swap with George Russel) and Sauber (Raikonnen retirement maybe?).
There's 6 drivers out of contract next year I believe. And none of those are in top seats. Apart from Bottas own deal. Red Bull have already said publicly their second seat won't be available so it looks like Perez will get an extension, Mclaren are tied up, Ferrari are tied up, Alpine are tied up, Aston Martin also tied up for next year. 
Yep, I think if he doesn't have a Merc seat next year he won't be in F1. Esp with the recent suggestions that he was considering retiring at the start of this year. The Haas is an extreme example but I can't see him finding any of the options appealing, including Williams. And I don't think he wants a Merc seat next year.
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