Silly Season -2021

Mercedes could delay decision on second 2022 F1 seat until winter
By: Jonathan Noble
Jun 18, 2021, 2:48 PM
Mercedes may delay making a decision on its second 2022 Formula 1 seat until the winter, as it weighs up whether to retain Valtteri Bottas or take George Russell.
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While the German manufacturer hopes to nail down a fresh contract with Lewis Hamilton around the summer break, it is more uncertain about the timing of making a call on its second seat.

Both Bottas and Russell are out of contract at the end of this year, and there have been suggestions that the team could be poised to decide soon.

With Bottas having had some recent struggles, there was even wild speculation that Mercedes could announce signing Russell as early as the British Grand Prix.

But speaking at the French GP, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said that there was no rush to decide what to do – and that there was a chance the matter could drag on into the winter.


Asked about when there could be news, Wolff said: “Somewhere in the winter I think. But I don't know if it's December, January or February.”

Pushed on if the team would really wait that long, Wolff said: “It is highly possible because we have always been committed and loyal to the drivers. And this is what we're doing.”

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mercedes-could-delay-decision-on-second-2022-f1-seat-until-winter/6582862/

 

I agree with this insight from Montoya. Bottas has been mis-managed in a way with constant 1 year deals. He should have been put on a 2 year contract for his first renewal.

Bottas needs quick decision on Mercedes future to ease pressure
By: Luke Smith
Jun 24, 2021, 5:18 AM
Juan Pablo Montoya believes that a quick decision about Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes Formula 1 future would ease the pressure on him and help improve his relationship with the team.

Bottas is out of contract at the end of the 2021 season, and faces competition for his seat from Mercedes junior George Russell, who has spent the past three seasons racing for Williams.

Mercedes has made clear that it will not rush into a decision about its line-up for 2022, while Bottas has sought to ensure thoughts about his future do not distract him.

Bottas has struggled in the early part of the 2021 season, finishing a race no higher than third and slipping to fifth place in the drivers’ championship, scoring less than half of team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s points total.

A difficult end to the race in France saw Bottas lose third place in the closing stages, having fumed over team radio about the decision to stick to a one-stop strategy.

Speaking about Bottas’ future, ex-F1 driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Montoya felt that a quick decision from the team would help improve their relationship and ease the pressure on the Finn on-track.

“I think if they went to him and told him, you’re out, I think it would get a lot better, whether he’s going to be out or in,” Montoya told Motorsport TV Live.

“Whatever they decide they need to do, they need to do it quickly. Because at the moment, he’s in a really bad situation where they’re not telling him yes or no, just keep doing your job, and if you do your job, you might get a seat.

“That’s the worst situation to be in, because you want to go as fast as you can, but you don’t want to make any mistakes.

“That combination is terrible, because the pressure of screwing up week after week, it gets higher, and when things don’t go well, then the relationship with the team is not the best either.

“Either way, whether they commit to him or not, I think the pressure is going to stop.”

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George Russell, Williams

Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images

Russell is a free agent at the end of the season when his three-year deal with Williams comes to an end, making him an option for Mercedes to promote into its senior team.

The British driver has impressed throughout his time with Williams despite the team’s struggles, and showed his potential in a Mercedes car in Sakhir last year, stepping in after Lewis Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19.

Montoya said that Russell was “the obvious answer” to replace Bottas should Mercedes let him go, but was curious to see how he might fare up against Hamilton.

“I think the job he did before was outstanding,” Montoya said.

“We’ll see what happens when Russell has got to match up to Lewis. He might look really good in practice like Bottas does, and go into the race, and Lewis goes and beats him by 20-30 seconds.

“How Russell’s head reacts to that, and how he can react to that and overcome that, that’s going to be the key to success.”

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/montoya-bottas-needs-quick-decision-on-mercedes-future-to-ease-pressure/6602828/

 

Formula 1
Hamilton in talks with Mercedes over new contract

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton says he has started negotiations with Mercedes over a new contract to stay beyond this season.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1

 

It was supposed to be announced earlier. Then Bottas said there have been no talks and Toto confirmed that. Now its next week. No tomorrow lol. Rumor and no facts. I like Planet F1 they are good at generating clicks. Sometimes news lol. Brundle speculating with no facts. It was a done deal weeks ago per PlanetF1 then that died. Rah rah Brit GP weekend - perfect place for the Russell announcement. Thats an opinion. We will know when its announced. No one knows anything.

Personally its better to keep Bottas next year and in the last year of LH contract move Russell up for his only year with LH. But but.....rumors are LH might sign another contract per Toto yesterday in the press lol.

 

They both denied weeks ago a decision was made.

 

Really???

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/russell-nothing-will-be-announced-about-my-f1-future-at-silverstone/6629653/


Russell: "Nothing will be announced" about F1 future at Silverstone
By: Luke Smith
Jul 13, 2021, 6:05 AM
George Russell has claimed that "nothing will be announced" about his Formula 1 future over this weekend's British Grand Prix amid continued links to a Mercedes drive for 2022.

Current Williams driver Russell is in contention to join Mercedes for next year as Lewis Hamilton's teammate, having been part of the team's junior programme since 2017.

Mercedes has said that it will decide between Russell and current driver Valtteri Bottas at some point over the summer, with both drivers' existing contracts due to expire at the end of the season.

But Russell has revealed that no news will arrive about his future at his home grand prix at Silverstone, denying that he has already secured a deal with Mercedes for 2022.

In the latest episode of the F1 Nation podcast, Russell was asked if he had signed for Mercedes and replied: "I signed with Mercedes five or six years ago now.

"That is 100% true. As everybody knows, they look after me.

"But with regards to my drive for next year, nothing has been signed or sealed, and nothing will be announced in Silverstone.

 

Alfa Romeo could replace both Raikkonen and Giovinazzi in F1 for 2022
By: Jonathan Noble
Jul 17, 2021, 8:23 AM
Alfa Romeo has not ruled out replacing both its Formula 1 drivers next year, with Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi being urged to lift their game.

 

Yes they are both not worth paying for any longer.

 

Formula One champions Mercedes are aiming to decide Lewis Hamilton's 2022 team mate before the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa at the end of August, team boss Toto Wolff said on Friday.

The choice is effectively between continuing with Finnish incumbent Valtteri Bottas or promoting 23-year-old Mercedes-contracted British driver George Russell from struggling Williams.

Seven-times world champion Hamilton this month signed a new two-year contract that will keep him at Mercedes until the end of 2023.

Bottas has said he wants to sort out his future over the summer break and Wolff told reporters that Mercedes were aligned on the time scale.

 

Better how. Bottas has ensured multiple titles. Perez cant keep it on the track or even get close to Max. If you are winning both titles what is broken. Makes more sense for George to stay at Williams 1 more year, get used to the new cars/formula and join LH in his last year with Mercedes and move into the team #1 role.

If they do know and have signed George delaying it gives Bottas fewer options. Thats not keeping him engaged at all. More time is better than less. Just like Vettel at Ferrari. He had a full season to sort his next move.