So no more Nürburgring... But I am happy that we have such traditional tracks like Sakhir, Hanoi, Shanghai, Baku, Singapore, Sochi , Austin and Abu Dhabi in the calendar
Yes, see my post in the other thread "Spa Pre-GP, etc..."; he has definitively be called to Spa, this to be ready in case his services are needed; according to the rumors (Nothing conclusive for the time being...) one of the two drivers, probably Kimi, might be "unwell". Rgds
How can a driver develop based on one-year contracts??? So about every single race Bottas has to drive for a renewal of his contract... That is a great way to keep one driver down, but then Toto should spare us the usual "our drivers are free to race"-********... If you want them to race, give Bottas a three-year contract and give it a go!!! Everything else is just a joke.... But this also shows that Bottas does not even consider himself a top driver because no top driver would do that as it is a sign of low esteem....
MB has Bottas by the balls and he is smart enough to understand his place , he plays ball and stays with the top team
Valtteri Bottas will remain at the Mercedes Formula 1 team in 2020, with Esteban Ocon tipped to rejoined the grid at Renault or Haas instead. -- https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/145618/bottas-stays-at-mercedes-ocon-tipped-for-renault Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said a decision on who would partner Lewis Hamilton next season would be made during the summer break and admitted it was not easy to pick between Bottas and Ocon. The team announced Bottas would stay for a fourth season on Thursday morning ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. Bottas has won five races since replacing retired world champion Nico Rosberg in 2017 and, though he has not challenged Hamilton for the title, he has been a dependable supporting driver to the five-time champion and dutifully aided Mercedes constructors' championship bids. "I am very happy and proud to be part of the team for a fourth season and wish to thank every team member and the board of Mercedes for their trust and belief in me," said Bottas. "My performances have been getting better and better each year, and this is a great way to kick start the second half of 2019. "My overall target is to become Formula 1 world champion. "I believe that on paper, and from my experience with the team, Mercedes is the best option for me to achieve that goal in 2020. "We have nine races to go this season and I am determined to keep improving at every one of them. "Now, all my thoughts are on Spa and delivering a strong performance with the team this weekend." Image Unavailable, Please Login Wolff had recognised Ocon presented Mercedes with an appealing alternative, having lost his place on the F1 grid this season after an unexpected driver merry-go-round. The Bottas vs Ocon quandary What played on Wolff's mind Who should Mercedes pick? Bottas needs his Rosberg moment Ocon should take Alonso inspiration Ocon was seen as a potential future world champion at Mercedes, but Wolff needed to balance how the team handled an increased challenge from Ferrari and Red Bull and the dynamic Bottas has developed Hamilton. "We set Valtteri the challenge of coming back even stronger than we saw him in the first part of 2018 - and he has achieved that, with some really impressive performances in the early races this year," said Wolff. "Although it has been his most successful first half of a championship so far, he is hungry for more and determined to keep on improving and raising his level. "I'm delighted that he will stay with the team for another season at least - and look forward to seeing him raise the bar even further." Though Wolff was not keen on losing Ocon, he was also wary of hurting his career by holding onto him and preventing him from gaining a race seat. Despite being named reserve driver in 2019 and immersed in Mercedes' race team on weekends, Ocon has not driven the team's car this year with the limited testing opportunities available. By not promoting Ocon, the Frenchman is expected to be announced elsewhere - with Renault his likeliest destination, but Haas also considered an option. Ocon was due to join Renault for 2019 but was snubbed when the team made the shock move to sign Daniel Ricciardo from Red Bull. However, 12 months later, Ocon has the opportunity to join Ricciardo at the French works team in place of Hulkenberg. Hulkenberg has been key to Renault finishing sixth and fourth in the constructors' championship in the seasons he has raced for the team, but this season been outperformed by star new signing Ricciardo. Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul had made it clear it was looking at alternative options, with Ocon thought to be top of that list. Replacing Romain Grosjean at Haas has been considered a serious option for Ocon, but his future is not definitively known at present.
And has more experience than Ocon. Smart move and was the obvious move from the start. A technical plot to enhance the appeal of Ocon to others. No one see him ready for top team.
That's a bit harsh, Peter. The trouble these days - that is: since 2014 - is that there are only six cars able to win a Grand Prix; and even only three this year (at least for the time being): two Mercedes and one Red Bull (the one with a dutch/belgian driver); as for the Ferrari, well...they should be able to win, but so far they did not. So agreed, Valtteri's decision is perhaps not the ballsiest one...BUT: what was left for him to do? Because his alternative is between staying at Mercedes, and not being allowed to fight for the title, but winning three/four Grand Prix a year; or - for instance - joining Ricci at Renault, not being able to fight for the title and not being able to win Grand Prix either. Or going back to Williams, where he would be number one, but... Or going to Haas? There is one solution left, that is poisoning Lewis' orange juice and then fighting for the title; but bar that one, well: it is what it is; not the ideal world, but...you would rather win some Grand Prix as an obedient "number 2" to Lewis at Mercedes than being the proud, undisputed, agressive and fighting number One at Williams, not even seing one podium in the whole year, would you? Rgds
Well said. The choice is obvious for Bottas. Good for him and that is all that matters. Ferrari are the joke of driver management not Mercedes this year.
I do not think it is harsh, it is exactly what it is at the moment.... Yes, I agree that there is actually no better car for Bottas to choose but with these anual contracts he is only approaching his retirement, nothing more... One day Toto will say "no more" and then??? Who will take a driver that let others puppeteer him by the nose-ring through the arena every single year? After Mercedes will drop him there is nothing left for him, so either go yourself, fight for your position within the team (get a three year contract) or better plan for the career after Mercedes. Bottas is a good driver but mentally (self-esteem) he is not top, in this category he is even worse than Nico was.
Because it forces a set of urgency to his driving...presumably you're not a fan Enzo Ferrari style driver management? Being a proven winner and multiple world champion gets you the long contracts
Maybe they should hire Grosjean instead? Name, language and passport fit the bill. Except that he is Swiss. Well, half anyway.
Ocon confirmed at Renault for "several years" (poor him...) and in French: https://motorsport.nextgen-auto.com/fr/formule-1/officiel-esteban-ocon-rejoint-renault-f1-pour-plusieurs-annees,141088.html Rgds
