2017 AMG Mercedes F1 Team - Mercedes

[Schuttelberg]

It's going to be a long long season!

[iotar__]

(OP quotes removed)
I agree, but Nico addressed them in 2016, he was at his absolute best. He was aggressive and precise, more than any time before.

I think Valteri on the other hand, needs a bit of time. Once he finds himself in groove and get a good result his confidence will grow and he will be up there with Hamilton (but not in front I'm afraid).

However, I'm worried if he gets tumbled and pressed from Ferrari and RBR to the point where he gets overwhelmed, add the pressure from the team and the fact that he has a 1 YEAR contract... hmmm I hope we don't see that.

- not true, Rosberg improved in '15, '16 wasn't different, for example Bahrain '15 and overtaking Ferraris 4 times can only be underwhelming in the eyes of single minded fans of his team-mate, you want to see clumsy check Hungary the very same year but not from NR

- 1 year contract is Merc BS games, they like to talk about options (Alonso, Vehrlein) and contract extension as was the case with Rosberg who for ~half of his championship season was too on 1 year contract,

- I hope we don't see that either, it would be tragic if in the car quicker by half a second than nearest competitor he would crash in Q3 (Baku '16) or spun twice setting no time ('14 Aust) Or go backwards at the starts numerous times, Pressure can do that to a driver. Simple: drawing conclusions now is pointless. Wishful thinking on the other hand...

- As for speed, is it something Sky type media are trying to flog? It's usually the case with the repetitive droning like that. Highlights but sample is big enough. So how on earth is speed of Bottas questionable and Vettel's isn't:

Russia: ('16)
2 5 Sebastian Vettel FERRARI 1:36.555 1:36.623 1:36.123 16
3 77 Valtteri Bottas WILLIAMS 1:37.746 1:37.140 1:36.536 17
4 7 Kimi Räikkönen FERRARI 1:36.976 1:36.741 1:36.663 17

China
3 7 Kimi Räikkönen FERRARI 1:37.347 1:36.118 1:35.972 13
4 5 Sebastian Vettel FERRARI 1:37.001 1:36.183 1:36.246 10
5 77 Valtteri Bottas WILLIAMS 1:37.537 1:36.831 1:36.296 13

Spain
5 7 Kimi Räikkönen FERRARI 1:23.796 1:23.504 1:23.113 14
6 5 Sebastian Vettel FERRARI 1:24.124 1:23.688 1:23.334 12
7 77 Valtteri Bottas WILLIAMS 1:24.251 1:24.023 1:23.522 12

Canada
6 7 Kimi Räikkönen FERRARI 1:14.477 1:13.849 1:13.579 23
7 77 Valtteri Bottas WILLIAMS 1:14.389 1:13.791 1:13.670 20

GB

5 7 Kimi Räikkönen FERRARI 1:31.326 1:31.385 1:30.881 15
6 5 Sebastian Vettel FERRARI 1:31.606 1:30.711 1:31.490 17
7 77 Valtteri Bottas WILLIAMS1:31.913 1:31.478 1:31.557 12

Ger
5 7 Kimi Räikkönen FERRARI 1:15.752 1:15.242 1:15.142 12
6 5 Sebastian Vettel FERRARI 1:15.927 1:15.630 1:15.315 14
8 77 Valtteri Bottas WILLIAMS1:15.952 1:15.490 1:15.530 12

Bel
3 5 Sebastian Vettel FERRARI 1:23.077 1:22.275 1:21.972 13
4 7 Kimi Räikkönen FERRARI 1:23.217 1:22.568 1:22.065 15
5 77 Valtteri Bottas WILLIAMS1:23.264 1:22.499 1:22.388 12

Mexico
6 7 Kimi Räikkönen FERRARI 1:19.554 1:19.936 1:19.376 21
7 5 Sebastian Vettel FERRARI 1:19.865 1:19.385 1:19.381 17
8 77 Valtteri Bottas WILLIAMS1:20.338 1:19.958 1:19.551 20 ?

[Sonador]

I am a bit worried about Bottas, he seemed on edge an very nervous all weekend.
Hoping for a more relaxed and competitive Bottas in the future.

[ripper]

I've read that the team asked to Bottas to slow down at the end of the race because Hamilton's tyres weren't in good condition after he tried surpass Verstappen and then chase Vettel, so I don't think he did bad for the first race on that car.

[Gerhardsa]

I agree.
All this talk of Bottas not being on pace.
I think he did a stellar job in the race.
He held his own easily in the last 3rd of the race.

[WaikeCU]

Do you know what bothers me the most? The fact when they were refreshing themselves after the race, how awkward the relationship was between Valtteri and Lewis. Each did their refreshment and just stood their awkwardly with saying anything to each other. It's just like when Nico was around.

[Imido_30]

I agree.
All this talk of Bottas not being on pace.
I think he did a stellar job in the race.
He held his own easily in the last 3rd of the race.

He wouldn't have passed Lewis anyway. Lewis was not able to get infront of Verstappen with a much faster car, now how will Bottas overtake Lewis with the same car?

[PlatinumZealot]

I agree.
All this talk of Bottas not being on pace.
I think he did a stellar job in the race.
He held his own easily in the last 3rd of the race.

He is a bit too fast for my tastes and I can say the same for the Ferrari.

[PlatinumZealot]

Do you know what bothers me the most? The fact when they were refreshing themselves after the race, how awkward the relationship was between Valtteri and Lewis. Each did their refreshment and just stood their awkwardly with saying anything to each other. It's just like when Nico was around.

Nah. It's normal for teammates to be like that. Valterri being a Finn, he does not give a damn whether Lewis is best buddies or not. Actually, Vallie-B has a bit of a icy attitude if you ask me. He seems so bent on beating Lewis; every interview so far is about him not being satisfied with himself. I like it.

[ME4ME]

https://twitter.com/MrAlexF1/status/845918003602579456 http://en.f1i.com/news/263431-toto-angr ... check.html

[Gerhardsa]

I agree.
All this talk of Bottas not being on pace.
I think he did a stellar job in the race.
He held his own easily in the last 3rd of the race.

He wouldn't have passed Lewis anyway. Lewis was not able to get infront of Verstappen with a much faster car, now how will Bottas overtake Lewis with the same car?

I fail to see where I said that Bottas is/will be able to overtake Lewis.
If the roles were reversed, same applies. I don't see Hamilton getting past Bottas (especially if he cant get past a RB that is much slower than the Merc)

[Gerhardsa]

I agree.
All this talk of Bottas not being on pace.
I think he did a stellar job in the race.
He held his own easily in the last 3rd of the race.

He is a bit too fast for my tastes and I can say the same for the Ferrari.

I don't mind it to be honest. Makes for a mouthwatering affair this year. Now if Kimi can just join the party and we have 4 guys fighting it out, although I think it will come down to Lewis and Seb in the end

[F1NAC]

Bottas losing T wing

https://streamable.com/n3vmv

[GPR-A duplicate2]

So, does the door close for all other aspiring drivers to replace Bottas? He is doing what Nico was doing, under 3 tenths of Lewis in qualifying. Mercedes surely can't ask for more.

[Sevach]

So, does the door close for all other aspiring drivers to replace Bottas? He is doing what Nico was doing, under 3 tenths of Lewis in qualifying. Mercedes surely can't ask for more.

Straight out of the gate very impressive.

Unfortunately for him, with Ferrari right there he may not get the same chances Nico got.