Bottas admits he has 'plan B' for 2020
Valtteri Bottas has revealed he has a "plan B" in case Mercedes does not keep him for 2020.
Team boss Toto Wolff is openly weighing up between keeping the Finn, or promoting reserve driver Esteban Ocon to become Lewis Hamilton's new teammate. Bottas' case was not helped in Hungary, where he had his second consecutive difficult race in the space of a week.
"In Formula 1, you're only as good as your last race," former F1 driver JJ Lehto told Iltalehti newspaper when asked if Hockenheim and Hungary will hurt Bottas' chances of being re-signed.
Wolff says he will make the decision during the August break, and reassured Bottas that his call will not be dependent on "a bad day" in the cockpit. "We have to look at all the data and take into account a lot of factors that speak for or against him," he said.
Wolff even acknowledges that there are downsides to signing up Ocon. "A young guy like Esteban deserves a chance, but it will not be easy to manage the pressure of the comparison with Lewis. It's a difficult decision," he said.
Also difficult is the situation for Bottas, as the pressure mounts on him to stop a run of mistakes while his future remains in the air. "It's not easy," he admitted. "But that's the sport. You're always on the limit, deciding the degree of risk that is acceptable. "If at the same time there is uncertainty with your contract, it doesn't help. Some people think that drivers are better with pressure, but that's not the case for me."
As for what happens next, Bottas insisted he is "not particularly worried" about Wolff's August deliberations. "But I would like to hear from the team about this," he said. "When you're in Formula 1, you should always have a plan B and plan C as well."
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Valtteri Bottas has done a cracking job all the top drivers have made mistakes so far this season including lewis and max if your going to pit a young driver in put George Russell in and put ocon in a williams
Agree...
Valtteri as done extremely well, and if he stays at Mercedes he will do well again. but from what I have herd other the last few months Valtteri needs a team that will work to help him win the world championship. good luck in all you do Valtteri.
Valterri is a very good driver and a gentleman both on and off track. He's given Hamilton many a fright and he has the ability that many don't have (and I include lewis) to make a car go quickly straight from the get-go.
I've watched F1 for many years now and I have to say that this new Mercedes Team is one of the absolute fairest to their drivers and way beyond Ferrari and that has been so throughout F1 recent history. However, when you boil it down, the teams (all of them) want to win titles and if Valterri is out of contention of course they will favour Hamilton to maximise points and ask him to forfeit points for the greater good. It's not what we all want to see but it is part of the sport and always has been. Personally speaking I think he's done enough to keep his seat and his results have got to be measured against who his opponent is.
I can only think plan B is a career in television because he's failed as a driver over the last 2 years. Points and wins don't lie and he will lose his drive at the end of the year!!
This session I have read other comments from "ok then" and they did not impress me either. If he/she follows his/her usual style I will be expecting a personal tirade that is nothing to do with the subject. Valtteri has certainly not failed as a driver. Like the last race his fall down the field was caused by LeClerc. You are talking of him being a failure which, when you are up against the best of the best, is far from being a failure. How many 1/2s have they had this year?
Swop George Russell for Valtteri both ways, williams need Bottas, and Lewis would be perfect to mentor new star George ( same engine !)