Bottas signs new deal with Mercedes

[Markbarry1977]

Good move in my opinion. Definitely one of the best backup/2nd drivers out there

Valtteri Bottas signs new Mercedes deal for 2018 season

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula-one/41255147

[RemaL]

Just read this myself. No a surprise. Maybe Verstappen for 19

[anonymous-user]

RemaL said:

Just read this myself. No a surprise. Maybe Verstappen for 19

Why not Ricciardo or Verstappen for 2018??

Just seems madness not to try and sign one of the above.

Ferrari as well. Not very forward thinking.

[Markbarry1977]

I suppose he knows the team, he knows the car and procedures and probably doesn't command the salary of verstapen et al listed so far.

[HustleRussell]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Why not Ricciardo or Verstappen for 2018??

Because both of them are in water-tight contracts and because both of them would... erm... disrupt harmony in the team if placed alongside Hamilton.

[Rude-boy]

Yep,

Today Lewis will be a very happy man.

[37chevy]

Rude-boy said:

Yep,

Today Lewis will be a very happy man.

Think Lewis has proven over the years that he doesn't mind who his teammate is

[lee_fr200]

37chevy said:

Think Lewis has proven over the years that he doesn't mind who his teammate is

Oh I don't know he seemed pretty rattled by Jenson button when he came to mclaren and pushed Lewis out and beat him fair and square

[glazbagun]

Yep. I like Bottas and he's given himself a good showing, but this is a management decision ala Raikonnen's perennial #2 status.

To be fair to Mercedes, though- I truly believe they'd give him a chance to be WDC if he could take it to the wire like Rosberg did, which is more than you could say for Ferrari who would never sign Ricciardo and risk a re-run of 2014 with Red Bull.

[paulguitar]

lee_fr200 said:

37chevy said:

Think Lewis has proven over the years that he doesn't mind who his teammate is

Oh I don't know he seemed pretty rattled by Jenson button when he came to mclaren and pushed Lewis out and beat him fair and square

That must be quite the moonshine that you are enjoying!

[37chevy]

lee_fr200 said:

Oh I don't know he seemed pretty rattled by Jenson button when he came to mclaren and pushed Lewis out and beat him fair and square

Pushed Lewis out? Hmmm how did that turn out for both drivers, hhaha

[KevinCamaroSS]

lee_fr200 said:

Oh I don't know he seemed pretty rattled by Jenson button when he came to mclaren and pushed Lewis out and beat him fair and square

Do you actually believe the garbage you spout? In the 3 seasons they were together at McLaren the WDC position score is 2:1 in favour of Hamilton, LH then took a calculated risk in joining Mercedes at a time when they were struggling.

[HustleRussell]

Would love Bottas to 'do a Rosberg' on Hamilton next year, I think Ferrari's challenge is falling off and an intra-team rivalry a la 2016 would be entertaining. Valterri's Finnish cool might be a foil for Hamilton's diva.

[Vocal Minority]

I think you will see a Ferrari resurgence at Singapore - Monza was a relative disaster for Ferrari, but that is the circuit where the performance gap between them and Mercedes was always going to be widest. Also, really rather premature to use a small dip in form to write them off for 2018 as well!!

Re Bottas: Only sensible decision for Mercedes. Quick enough that he can mop up a win or two when the lead is off form and podiums when he isn't. But not so quick he will be a destabilising influence in the team* and there is no need to look like a 'bad guy' by making them a Number 2 - as the natural order basically sorts that out.

• awaits chevy37 to jump to Lewis' defence at the imagined slight.... I am sure Lewis Hamilton doesn't mind a competitive teammate. But I can't imagine 2014-2016 was an enjoyable management experience for their bosses.

RE: Verstappen and Ricciardo - Red Bull's lawyers will have made damn sure they can't go anywhere for 2018 - and they may challenge what is an effective and (relatively) chummy and comfortable atmosphere. If Hamilton were to leave, absolutely. But with him there....I think bottas may be a sweet spot

[liner33]

I had heard from a claimed "insider" which probably translates to "bloke down the pub" that talks were happening for Bottas to go back to Williams and Ocon to get the seat at Mercedes , looks like that was bo##ocks then

[AndStilliRise]

lee_fr200 said:

37chevy said:

Think Lewis has proven over the years that he doesn't mind who his teammate is

Oh I don't know he seemed pretty rattled by Jenson button when he came to mclaren and pushed Lewis out and beat him fair and square

lol...
I can't respond because of the absurdity of the post.
Still lol...
Just one more thing, remind me again who has been retired for 2 years and which driver is leading the drivers championship?

[HustleRussell]

Vocal Minority said:

I think you will see a Ferrari resurgence at Singapore - Monza was a relative disaster for Ferrari, but that is the circuit where the performance gap between them and Mercedes was always going to be widest. Also, really rather premature to use a small dip in form to write them off for 2018 as well!!

I hope this season delivers the Hamilton / Vettel rivalry everybody wants but ever since Australia I have pessimistically predicted that Mercedes would win the development race and ultimately the championships, and I grew even more certain when Ferrari had some early reliability issues.

I think this season will fizzle and that will be the catalyst for a major re-think in the 'three power units for 2018' plan and the grid penalties system.

I hope I am wrong (about the 'fizzling' part)