2019 Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team

[Morteza]

New ZOOM F1 poster for Belgian GP. You can get one from here

[Maritimer]

Liberty need to be putting out media like this themselves

[Wouter]

https://twitter.com/MercedesAMGF1/statu ... 1284633600

[Tzk]

I guess that was the logical choice. Bottas isn't the best driver ever but he delivers (mostly) and is a great #2 driver.

Now: Ocon to Renault and Hulk out?

[izzy]

So why do we think they still only signed Valtteri for one year when Renault have Esteban for 2?

[digitalrurouni]

Cause maybe George Russell is an option to swap Valteri out for?

[godlameroso]

That is the projected path forward, Russell definitely has the skills to keep Mercedes competitive on the driver front.

[izzy]

Cause maybe George Russell is an option to swap Valteri out for?

Yeeesss, it's just that he's signed with Williams thru 2021 and everyone's said they're sticking with that. Plus he's only 21 and Esteban is too young at 22 apparently

[digitalrurouni]

Cause maybe George Russell is an option to swap Valteri out for?

Yeeesss, it's just that he's signed with Williams thru 2021 and everyone's said they're sticking with that. Plus he's only 21 and Esteban is too young at 22 apparently

Oh interesting. Was not aware of that. Hmm

[izzy]

Cause maybe George Russell is an option to swap Valteri out for?

Yeeesss, it's just that he's signed with Williams thru 2021 and everyone's said they're sticking with that. Plus he's only 21 and Esteban is too young at 22 apparently

Oh interesting. Was not aware of that. Hmm

But one scenario it does fit i suppose is Lewis to Ferrari in 2021, Max to Mercedes...

[Big Tea]

I think Bottas was the right choice, besides I like him

[dtro]

I don't think Mercedes will find another Hamilton with their driver program. Out of Bottas, Ocon, and Russell only one has won races in F1. Hamilton came in to Mercedes essentially a complete package, experienced, proven on track, a WC already. Now Mercedes, having gone down the RB route of grooming young drivers now have to justify this program by promoting drivers that have question marks and asterisks next to their names.

Unless MV joins the team alongside Hamilton, their driver lineup over the following couple years looks fairly questionable. Bottas Hamilton works but Bottas isn't really Hamilton level, Hamilton Russell too early and Russell breaks, Ocon being hired by/on loan out to Renault means he gets a chance to prove himself (again) but he's also shown questionable decision making abilities on track.

My 2 cents.

[Phil]

I am convinced the signing of Bottas has all to do with a pre-agreement with Max Verstappen for 2020 at Mercedes.

Signing Bottas enables them to do that deal - a easy one year extension.

Ocon would not have signed a one year deal, hence they had to let him go [to Renault].

The big question for me, is if Max would actually drive for Mercedes if Hamilton is still there (assumption being Hamilton is offered a contract beyond 2020 and Hamilton agrees). The other interesting thought is; what if RedBull-Honda is so good next year that it would be foolish to leave them?

To me, what happens at RedBull will be very telling. Knowing how important Max is to them, i would expect them to pay top dollar to retain him at all costs. If he indeed signed some agreement with Mercedes for 2020, i wonder what RedBull will do to fill that void. Gasly, albon or Kvyat can hardly be the answer.

[marmer]

ocon would have signd a one year deal to race at Merc fairly sure most drivers would do it for free if give the option.

[Morteza]