BOTTAS WILL STAY WITH MERCEDES IN 2021

As every year, talks between Valtteri Bottas and Mercedes have been started and could be concluded sooner than usual in order to renew his contract for an additional season…

On Monday afternoon, Motorsport Italy announced, based on its reliable sources, that Mercedes will stick to Bottas in 2021 given his current performance. The team seems to aim for stability rather than youth.

The good start of Bottas into the season with a win in the first Grand Prix in Austria and due to the corona crisis that meant that Bottas’ alleged successor George Russell could gain less experience would lead to this decision, according to the medium.

Particularly, the late start of the season in July has a major impact on the driver choice. Therefore, the team would rather opt for stability. Moreover, there is still time left regarding Russell’s current contractual situation, as the young Brit actually still has a multi-year contract with Williams.

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There was recent speculation about Hamilton driving a hard bargain with Mercedes in terms of his retainer for next season and the coming years, but team boss Toto Wolff rubbished the hearsay, insisting that money had not been discussed between the sic-time world champion and his team.

“We haven’t had a single conversation about money,” Wolff said during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.

“Lewis is very aware of the financial realities of the auto industry and about Formula 1, and in the same way, I’m very respectful of his achievements and his class.

“Therefore it’s going to lead to I think a satisfactory outcome for all of us.”

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BOTTAS WILL STAY WITH MERCEDES IN 2021 BOTTAS WILL STAY WITH MERCEDES IN 2021