Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes

[Muzzer79]

kiseca said:

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.

Bottas in a Haas

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.

I'm inclined to agree.

Williams may do better post-rule changes, but it's a big step backwards from a title-challenging car.

Saying that, maybe someone will make space. He was seriously talking to Alpine for 2021 before they signed Alonso.
With Fernando not exactly having set the world alight and the grey hairs beginning to show, perhaps they'll make room there.

Maybe he'll end up in Formula E. Maybe he'll jump to another team and do LMDh

[Flooble]

Is Bottas the sort to drive for the joy of it (e.g. Kimi, even Vettel) or will he give up if he's no chance of a Championship contending car?

[Fundoreen]

What is a top seat now may not be next year. The whole point of the new rules.
Williams are going down the aston martin route and running a mercedes back end. I guess they can imagine the front bits quite well and have a good car.
It will as usual be the most eagerly anticipated season in years before they all trundle around in quali order to the finish in front of a snoozing tv audience.

[liner33]

I dunno about HAAS , who would want to be Mazepin's teammate plus HAAS will be in flux next year ?

I think he knows he is out , hence the outburst but he will remain professional to the last , he has to if he want a career

[Flooble]

liner33 said:

I dunno about HAAS , who would want to be Mazepin's teammate plus HAAS will be in flux next year ?

I think he knows he is out , hence the outburst but he will remain professional to the last , he has to if he want a career

Um ... professional to the last but an outburst on the radio

I suspect that despite our hopes, the top teams next year will be the top teams this year. Red Bull may fly, and Mercedes may fall, but it'll still be along the lines of Red Bull, Mercedes, (Ferrari) <gap> McLaren, Aston Martin, Alpine <gap> Alfa, Alpha <gap> Haas. No idea where Williams will slot in but I'm pretty sure it'll be nearer Haas than Mclaren.

[liner33]

Flooble said:

Um ... professional to the last but an outburst on the radio

I suspect that despite our hopes, the top teams next year will be the top teams this year. Red Bull may fly, and Mercedes may fall, but it'll still be along the lines of Red Bull, Mercedes, (Ferrari) <gap> McLaren, Aston Martin, Alpine <gap> Alfa, Alpha <gap> Haas. No idea where Williams will slot in but I'm pretty sure it'll be nearer Haas than Mclaren.

Yeah but moaning on the radio is different to scuppering MB chance at a drivers or world championship

[carinaman]

Flooble said:

Um ... professional to the last but an outburst on the radio

I suspect that despite our hopes, the top teams next year will be the top teams this year. Red Bull may fly, and Mercedes may fall, but it'll still be along the lines of Red Bull, Mercedes, (Ferrari) <gap> McLaren, Aston Martin, Alpine <gap> Alfa, Alpha <gap> Haas. No idea where Williams will slot in but I'm pretty sure it'll be nearer Haas than Mclaren.

Will Ferrari be in front of McLaren?

[TheDeuce]

carinaman said:

Flooble said:

Um ... professional to the last but an outburst on the radio

I suspect that despite our hopes, the top teams next year will be the top teams this year. Red Bull may fly, and Mercedes may fall, but it'll still be along the lines of Red Bull, Mercedes, (Ferrari) <gap> McLaren, Aston Martin, Alpine <gap> Alfa, Alpha <gap> Haas. No idea where Williams will slot in but I'm pretty sure it'll be nearer Haas than Mclaren.

Will Ferrari be in front of McLaren?

Probably next year - on the basis they've had the budget to be spending on the new regs car for the past several years, as have red bull and Mercedes.

The other teams have been limited by their own budgets those years rather than the actual budget cap this year.

Hence, as a top budget team, I would expect them to have a greater chance than McLaren at the start of the new era. That's not to say it's impossible that another team could make a particularly good fist of the new regs... But in general in F1 budget translates in to performance.

[thegreenhell]

We've seen many times over the years that available budget does not equal success.

[TheDeuce]

thegreenhell said:

We've seen many times over the years that available budget does not equal success.

Which is why I made that point... But still, generally the top teams are those that spend the most - even if the order amongst those teams shifts out of line with budget.

[sparta6]

Muzzer79 said:

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

If his team leader had broken his leg and missed 6 races then he would have won it, not finished second......

Pure conjecture. Prove it.

I believe your previously-posted words were along the lines of

"Why should I do your research for you? Prove it yourself"

Muppet79

In your fantasy Bottas wins the WDC when Hamilton is away with a broken leg.
In the real world Bottas is so good that he's about to be dropped by his team

[rdjohn]

Fundoreen said:

What is a top seat now may not be next year. The whole point of the new rules.
Williams are going down the aston martin route and running a mercedes back end. I guess they can imagine the front bits quite well and have a good car.
It will as usual be the most eagerly anticipated season in years before they all trundle around in quali order to the finish in front of a snoozing tv audience.

I think the debt owed to Merc will form the basis of a deal to get him back with Williams. That is if he wants the drive. They would welcome his maturity, especially if it comes as a low-cost option.

[parabolica]

Flooble said:

Is Bottas the sort to drive for the joy of it (e.g. Kimi, even Vettel) or will he give up if he's no chance of a Championship contending car?

Kym Illman posted a pic he snapped of Bottas and Fred Vasseur talking on the way into the paddock at either Monaco or Baku and it seemed to set tongues wagging. But i reckon he’ll leave F1 and go be happy doing something else.

[andburg]

Wonder if he can sing!! imagine him leaving f1 and beating Lewis to having a song released

[Jasandjules]

rdjohn said:

I think the debt owed to Merc will form the basis of a deal to get him back with Williams. That is if he wants the drive. They would welcome his maturity, especially if it comes as a low-cost option.

I think he will go to Williams. It would actually be a real challenge to see if he can raise a team up AND of course if he can out-perform the car it would prove how good a driver he is/was...

[NewBod]

kiseca said:

Bottas in a Haas

It works well - Botthaas.

He has his new pro cyclist girlfriend. He Will be too busy smooching.

[Smollet]

Jasandjules said:

rdjohn said:

I think the debt owed to Merc will form the basis of a deal to get him back with Williams. That is if he wants the drive. They would welcome his maturity, especially if it comes as a low-cost option.

I think he will go to Williams. It would actually be a real challenge to see if he can raise a team up AND of course if he can out-perform the car it would prove how good a driver he is/was...

He’s had a challenge trying to beat Lewis. I doubt he’d want another one.

[Jasandjules]

Smollet said:

He’s had a challenge trying to beat Lewis. I doubt he’d want another one.

Well, he could at least beat Latifi (pretty sure I could give him a run for his money!) and then also if he gets to Q2 quali each weekend he will seem as good as Russel and get some credit back?!?!

[Durzel]

Jasandjules said:

rdjohn said:

I think the debt owed to Merc will form the basis of a deal to get him back with Williams. That is if he wants the drive. They would welcome his maturity, especially if it comes as a low-cost option.

I think he will go to Williams. It would actually be a real challenge to see if he can raise a team up AND of course if he can out-perform the car it would prove how good a driver he is/was...

Yeah I think Williams is the obvious choice, in a straight swap with Russell. I don’t think Bottas will grumble too much, he seems to just get on with it.

[Muzzer79]

sparta6 said:

Muzzer79 said:

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

If his team leader had broken his leg and missed 6 races then he would have won it, not finished second......

Pure conjecture. Prove it.

I believe your previously-posted words were along the lines of

"Why should I do your research for you? Prove it yourself"

Muppet79

In your fantasy Bottas wins the WDC when Hamilton is away with a broken leg.
In the real world Bottas is so good that he's about to be dropped by his team

Juvenile personal jabs now? That’s below the belt, even for you.

Still, nice to know you’re keeping in touch. Big hugs.