dren wrote:I expect Mclaren to make a nice improvement this year. How much is yet to be seen. But, saying Vettel goes to potentially Mclaren is only logical if a seat at Mercedes isn't open due to Alonso making the jump.
Since Bottas is only signed to a one year deal, I'd say Mercedes replaces him with Vettel or Alonso if Bottas doesn't perform to a similar level that Rosberg did.
I appreciate your passion, but don't agree with your assessment. This is F1. You're only as good as your last race. Your post has an assumption that Bottas will do poorly, and while I also feel Hamilton will absolutely maul him, if Mercedes wins the WCC they won't see the need to seek a replacement. Say, Bottas comes within 30-40-50 points of Hamilton? Why would Mercedes get Alonso who's in his last leg over Bottas who I don't think has peaked? Will they risk a Vettel who's known to get upset when team mates beat him? It makes 0 sense to the ambition of winning the WDC & the WCC.
Vettel will no doubt be looking for the best seat in 2018 whether that's Mercedes or Sauber. Honda and McLaren come with a racing pedigree and outstanding history along with a fat pay cheque but he has all of this at Ferrari and the ONLY lure will come with the bait of a winning car which begs the question? If McLaren have or are on the cusp of a winning car then why will Alonso leave?
There are too many variables in the 2018 driver market and at the end of it all, the stop watch will decide who lands up where. If I were you, I'd not count Bottas out and I certainly certainly wouldn't undermine the talent of Vandoorne. If he fulfils his promise, Honda might not need a superstar world champion in the other seat.
"Sebastian there's very, you're a member of a very select few.. Stewart, Lauda, Piquet, Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Fangio.. VETTEL!"