Bottas faces pressure as top teams monitor Mercedes future
Valtteri Bottas enters 2018 with only a one-year Mercedes deal, as speculation grows that rival teams are watching his progress and Mercedes keeps its options open.
Valtteri Bottas begins the 2018 Formula One season under increased scrutiny, with Mercedes confirming only a single-year contract extension and rivals reportedly tracking his situation. The Finn, who joined Mercedes in 2017 as Nico Rosberg’s replacement, impressed with two wins and nine podiums in his debut year, but the team has stopped short of a longer-term commitment.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described the decision to keep Bottas for 2018 as a “no-brainer” after a season that saw him take victories in Russia and Austria. Wolff said the Finn had been handed a tough task joining the team late and partnering Lewis Hamilton, but his results made a strong case for renewal. Still, the team opted for a one-year deal, leaving both Bottas and Hamilton out of contract at the end of 2018.
Bottas himself said he felt less pressure in his second year with the team, having settled into the Mercedes environment and learned to work alongside Hamilton. He believes that performing at his highest level will naturally secure his future, stating that meeting his goals would make contract discussions straightforward. Bottas’ focus is on delivering poles and wins, rather than worrying about negotiations.
Driver market poised for 2019 shake-up
The short-term nature of Bottas’s contract reflects a wider uncertainty at the front of the Formula One grid. All three leading teams, Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull, have kept their 2017 line-ups for 2018, but several high-profile drivers, including Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi Räikkönen, are out of contract at the end of the year. This sets up a potentially busy driver market for 2019.
Mercedes is known to be monitoring a number of alternatives. Ricciardo’s Red Bull deal expires after 2018, and the team has previously expressed interest in Max Verstappen, who has shown frustration at Red Bull. Esteban Ocon, a Mercedes junior, is also nearing the end of his loan at Force India. Ferrari may also be in the market if Räikkönen departs, while Fernando Alonso’s future remains uncertain.
- Bottas (Mercedes): Contract ends 2018
- Hamilton (Mercedes): Contract ends 2018
- Ricciardo (Red Bull): Contract ends 2018
- Räikkönen (Ferrari): Contract ends 2018
- Ocon (Force India): Mercedes junior, loan ends 2018
Performance the only currency for 2018
Wolff has made clear that Bottas will need to match or challenge Hamilton if he wants to keep his place at Mercedes. The team boss said there are “no excuses” for Bottas, who now knows the car, team and procedures. Hamilton, for his part, expects Bottas to be in top form, but says he is focused on his own performance and not concerned by the prospect of his team-mate mounting a title challenge.
The 2018 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix, and Bottas knows that strong results are the best way to secure his future, either at Mercedes or with another top team watching the market. With the driver market set for upheaval, every race will count.
