I can't see Bottas wanting to move anywhere else if he has any title aspirations whatsoever. Sure, he likely won't win against Hamilton over a full season unless there's a reliability imbalance (like 2016) but while he's in that seat all is possible for him. If he wants a car which can compete, he then has to deal with either Leclerc or Verstappen as a team mate AND Hamilton, but where he is he has slightly better circumstances in the most complete car. His best chance is staying put until Hamilton retires if he can, and then giving it his all against the new driver (presumably Russell) in their first season, when his opportunity is greatest.Manoah2u wrote: ↑15 Jul 2020, 12:31buddy, i don't think you fully understand the point. It's not about replacing hamilton at all. Wolff himself mentioned that there IS the lingering scenario that either of the drivers, whether that be Lewis or Valterri, suddenly decides to quite - like Rosberg did for example. Or that they suddenly jump ship to another team - like Vettel left RBR 'suddenly.
That scenario is what they have in mind and with that in mind they need to negotiate and concider Vettel. They could do such by making sure he's 'under their wings' so that would mean Mercedes/AstonMartin/Williams. That way, if a spot turns up, they can swiftly put him in the car.
Apart from that, there is still the question whether they will continue with Bottas. Hamilton is not even a question, that is all up to him whether he stays or goes. Bottas is doing pretty good, let that be clear. But will Bottas stay if he plays second fiddle again and realizes he's never gonna get a WDC under his belt with Lewis there? In Bottas case, it's the question whether Bottas wants to stay, AND if Mercedes wants him to stay.
So there is zero talk about Hamilton being replaced by Vettel, that is not even up for debate, that doesnt happen (UNLESS Hamilton calls it quits) It's about what to do with the second seat.
Oh i understand quite fine, thank you. It seems though, that Bottas seat is already secured. So that puts your line of thinking to rest.Manoah2u wrote: ↑15 Jul 2020, 12:31buddy, i don't think you fully understand the point. It's not about replacing hamilton at all.
...
But will Bottas stay if he plays second fiddle again and realizes he's never gonna get a WDC under his belt with Lewis there? In Bottas case, it's the question whether Bottas wants to stay, AND if Mercedes wants him to stay.
I say yes, because if he wants to be WDC at Mercedes he 'only' has to beat Hamilton in the same machinery. If he goes to RB or Ferrari he has to beat Hamilton in arguably inferior machinery AND he has to beat one of Leclerc or Verstappen in the same machinery. His task gets that much harder.Manoah2u wrote: ↑15 Jul 2020, 13:04I'll repeat what I said before: Does Bottas want to stay if he knows he won't get a WDC shot with Mercedes? He has been in this situation for quite some time now and no matter how much Merc is calling him 2.0 and 3.0, the end result is they're still putting the eggs in Hamilton's basket. This season especially if they want to make Hamilton an 8 time WDC. The problem is that Hamilton is gonna stay, and Hamilton simply is better than Bottas. ONLY if the team hugely favours Bottas and Hamilton gets a bunch of DNF, then Bottas has a chance on the title.
He must know this full well, and it's just a matter of time before he's gonna have had enough of it.
Will he stay just because it's the best seat? Well in a fashion sure he's able to win with Merc, so that's always good. No other team will grant him that opportunity. And let's face it, IF he could have a shot at another team, WHY would they hire him over the likes of Verstappen, Vettel, Alonso for that matter, who are all better drivers?
Bottas is a Barrichello. That's what he is and that's why he's in the seat.
When i say Bottas gets fed up with it himself - meaning, it's not Mercedes that replaces him, but he himself who will leave - then I think Bottas is gonna leave F1 alltogether.
After all, if he can't (ever) get a WDC in F1, but he can get in other 'top class' racing series, then why stay? I think the satisfaction of winning LeMans, or becoming WDC with the WEC,
is hugely more satisfying than spending your entire F1 career as a nr2 lap dog for Mercedes with the occasional win and pat on the back with a lot of money thrown to your bank account.
I'm also quite sure that Bottas can already retire from what he's made in F1 comfortably, and i don't see him as somebody who decides a seat over what he gets paid.
BOTTAS X U-l-T-i-m-a-t-E GTR, Blitz versionNathanOlder wrote: ↑15 Jul 2020, 13:20I can see into the future.
"Russell wins 3rd title as Bottas 8.0 prepares for title fight next season"
Because Russell is too good to languish at Williams. McLaren didn't stick with trusty Montoya as Alonso's teammate, did they? The idea there is one rule for one dominant GP2 champion, and another rule for another dominant F2 champion is purely absurd, isn't it?El Scorchio wrote: ↑15 Jul 2020, 12:55Why rock the boat when it's not necessary, and what you have already is bringing home the WCC and WDC titles?
This is utterly untrue. Russell dominated F2 in a similar manner to Hamilton, yet Hamilton was not required to waste his time driving for 3-4 seasons in c-tier and b-tier teams.Manoah2u wrote: ↑14 Jul 2020, 01:58I don't think that if for some freaky reason either Bottas or Hamilton would permanently retire at the end of the 2020 season that they'd wheel in Russell though. He needs time in a 'b tier' car before getting in a 'a tier' car, and he's been in a 'c tier' car at best.
A larger air intake which increased horsepower immediately, McLaren prohibited the larger size whereas Toro Rosso accommodated it.Andres125sx wrote: ↑15 Jul 2020, 11:29What fundamental changes did Honda do to their PU when they switched from McLaren to RBR?
Alonso was also on the market until very recently.
Well... Massa went trough Schumacher, Raikkonen and Alonso and even himself had a brief chance for a season. Or Barichello he sat besides two world champions. Irvine at least jumped ship to a good payday.NathanOlder wrote: ↑15 Jul 2020, 13:20I can see into the future.
"Russell wins 3rd title as Bottas 8.0 prepares for title fight next season"
the midfield is so full these days, they have to be stacked.