Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas’ ascension into a race-winning seat with Mercedes may have involved a dose of good fortune following Nico Rosberg’s shock retirement at the end of 2016, the ex-Williams driver grabbed the opportunity with both hands last season.
Three wins helped Mercedes on its way to a fourth straight constructors’ championship, but Bottas was left disappointed with his own displays after a mid-season dip in form put him out of contention for the drivers’ crown. He ended the year third in the final standings, 58 points adrift of teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Bottas was handed an extended contract in Singapore last year running to the end of 2018, but he faces a vital year if he wants to prolong his stay at Mercedes beyond that date.
It’s not a slight on Bottas’ own ability or form; it’s more down to the volatile driver market that is to follow. Only Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso are tied down for 2019, leaving the likes of Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon as leading candidates for a Mercedes drive.
Red Bull remains eager to lock Ricciardo in for the long term, but the Australian could be tempted to fly the nest if Mercedes were to make an attractive offer. Mercedes youngster Ocon impressed through his first full season at Force India in 2017, and will want to build on that through his sophomore campaign in order to jockey for a possible promotion to a seat with the Silver Arrows.
Will Mercedes stick or twist with Bottas for 2019? It’s up to the Finn to do his talking on-track and make the decision an easy one.
