F1 News
Wolff again puts talents aside: ''Very happy with the current drivers''
- GPblog.com
Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton are not yet assured of a seat at Mercedes in 2021, but in conversation with Toto Wolff it soon becomes clear that this will probably be the case.
Mercedes retains drivers
For the Mercedes seat next to Hamilton it was a battle between Esteban Ocon and Bottas in 2020. The Finn won this duel and saw rival Ocon leave for Renault for two seasons. With George Russell, Bottas got another rival, but now that it will remain with Williams in 2021, Bottas' future seems certain.
''We are very happy with our driver duo. Both are very fast. Bottas is there on a bad day for Lewis, but Lewis is unbeatable on a good day. The atmosphere between the two drivers is very good and that's important for the team. They respect each other and the team and that's why they are the best choice for us," Wolff says to Auto, Motor und Sport.
No competition
Although Wolff is not yet able to announce a contract extension, the competition for the two drivers seems to be over. ''It was soon clear that Russell would stay with Williams for another year and Ocon still has a contract with Renault in 2020'', says Wolff who sees enough opportunities for the protégés of Mercedes.
''Russell is not lost immediately if he can't find a seat before 2022. Even if we don't open the door for him to Mercedes, he is a language of Mercedes and already he can find a place in the sport. But that's still a long way off'', the Austrian concludes.