General
Mercedes 2022: Make Hamilton champion again, or opt for a new champion?
Lewis Hamilton has signed a new contract with Mercedes, but the deal between the two parties is set for eleven months. For Mercedes, this means that the team has not yet contracted any drivers for next season. Do they want to go for another title with Hamilton? Or is it the time for a new world champion?
Equal to the ultimate record
Mercedes and Hamilton have won everything there is to be won. The total currently stands at seven world titles for Hamilton, who has equalled the record of Michael Schumacher. In 2021, Hamilton is going for his eighth title and there is a good chance that he will achieve it. Hamilton is then the record holder and is without a contract.
A logical step would, of course, be for Mercedes to continue for another year with Hamilton, who can then go for his ninth title. The chance that nine Formula 1 world titles will be broken is very small and with that Hamilton can be the record champion forever. However, after Schumacher's seventh title, it was also regularly said that no one would ever get seven more titles and look where we are now.
All options are still open
Maybe it's time for Mercedes to show that they can win titles with drivers other than Hamilton. The question is, therefore: what is more valuable to Mercedes? A possible ninth title with Hamilton or the first title for Valtteri Bottas or George Russell?
Bottas has been waiting for his chance for years, but seems unable to beat Hamilton unless the Brit has an "off-day". The chance that Mercedes wants to bet on a driver's title with Bottas therefore does not seem very great. Russell showed in his one race, that he was cut from the right racing wood.
Not an easy choice for Mercedes
Mercedes can show by putting Russell in the car that they don't require Hamilton to become Champions. In addition, they also immediately put a talent for the future in the car. Hamilton is getting older, while Russell is only at the beginning of a long career in Formula 1.
One thing is certain: Mercedes faces a difficult choice at the end of 2021. What would you choose if you were in the shoes of Toto Wolff? A longer stay for Hamilton and a ninth title or do you choose a new champion in Russell or Bottas? Let us know in the poll!
This article was written and originally published by Bonne on the Dutch edition of GPblog.com.