Rosbergs replacement

Right from the off, Bottas has been Mercedes biggest (possibly only) target.
1. He is experienced and reliable
2. He is quick (given decent equipment)
3. He is laid back and cool, so he can cope with the BS from Hamilton
4. Williams is a merc team, so prising him away will be quite a simple task as Williams want to keep Merc happy
5. Massa will come back to keep and experienced driver alongside the rookie. Massa only retired because at the time Williams had signed Stroll and Bottas already had a contract. There was no (or very little) bad blood between Massa and the team

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Originally Posted by Zico

I guess you're right.

I was a bit concerned that Phillipe's heart might not be fully in it, somewhat going through the motions again... which for me he already seemed to be doing after his accident. Maybe it's a bit harsh to say it but in recent years, I always felt that any fire he ever had was long gone.

The bigger picture is a substantial Merc bargaining opportunity worth millions on top of whatever sponsor agreements are in place as well as ensuring young Lance has a long established and very experienced Williams team mate to aid with his intro to F1.

Will Phillipe return ? He has had a long career in F1, I'm not sure I would have once I'd made the decision to bow out... unless of course he was always minded to continue and was just being pushed out by Stroll.

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A driver who has had a major accident is never as fast as he was before the accident. Pat Symonds said that and I agree. He can keep the car in the points and has the experience needed.

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Originally Posted by Koz

You mean besides 2008, 2009, and the past 3 years at Williams?

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He was never considered a number one at anytime at Ferrari. He did well to nearly win a world title but to the team's mind, Raikonnen was their number one in 2008 and 2009, having won the driver's world title for Ferrari in 2007. He never really seized the lead driver status when he joined Williams for a number of reasons. Some outside his control and some due to mediocre performances on track relative to Bottas. For many, Massa never really regained his form after the incident that saw a spring from Barrichello's Brawn struck his head.

2017 would be a year where it is clear as day to him that he is expected to fulfill the role of lead driver. The main difference between Bottas' rookie year and the Stroll rookie year is that Bottas was reserve driver for a number of seasons for Williams before he landed his drive. He had loads of experience of the car before he got his seat as a main racing driver for Williams. Stroll on the other hand is coming to it with no real experience behind the wheel of the Williams or of a season of f1. He would need someone like Massa to learn from and the team need someone like Massa to assist with developing the car. Stroll would not be very useful as a source of key information initially. Feedback from Massa would be the most valued input to the team.

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Originally Posted by anfield5

Right from the off, Bottas has been Mercedes biggest (possibly only) target.
1. He is experienced and reliable
2. He is quick (given decent equipment)
3. He is laid back and cool, so he can cope with the BS from Hamilton
4. Williams is a merc team, so prising him away will be quite a simple task as Williams want to keep Merc happy
5. Massa will come back to keep and experienced driver alongside the rookie. Massa only retired because at the time Williams had signed Stroll and Bottas already had a contract. There was no (or very little) bad blood between Massa and the team

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Bottas is quick but not in the league of Hamilton as we would find out next season. He is not defensively strong as we have found a number of times last season. The Redbull drivers would not be too bother being behind Bottas even in a Mercedes because they know they can have him. He would get better as his partnership with Hamilton would be great for him. He would learn alot and see how Hamilton prepares his campaign for his driver title. Bottas would be learning the car and fitting into the Mercedes culture in 2017, hence much is not really expected from him besides ensuring that he tries to attain a second place behind Hamilton for a Mercedes one two.

In open market, Bottas may not be the first choice, that honor would go to either Alonso or Vettel. But in the circumstances, he is the best option above Wehrlein.

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Originally Posted by Nitrodaze

But in the circumstances, he is the best option above Wehrlein.

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Best option was Kobayashi - who did apply.

Mercedes have settled for second best.

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Originally Posted by Rollo

Best option was Kobayashi - who did apply.

Mercedes have settled for second best.

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Kobayashi was looking good at Le Mans. But he didn't win it did he. It doesn't matter what the reason was [as it does matter what the reason was why Hamilton lost the 2016 title to Rosberg], mind you. Besides, he does not have recent experience of the hybrid cars. He never raced in the hybrid era of f1, hence like Di Resta, he is at a disadvantage to Bottas who has recent hybrid experience. In Di Resta's case to Massa. These small things make alot of difference.

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Originally Posted by truefan72

well, he just un-retired.
the person that seems hard done by is Wherlein.

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I fear the aftermath of the 2016 season could dampen Wehrleins racing spirit. Being passed over twice can have a negative psychological effect on a driver. I hope he has a strong head to cope with these setbacks. It is beginning to look like Wehrlein's future is not in Mercedes. Like Sainz, he has to bide his time in the sidelines and see what the future holds for him in 2018, assuming he can find a seat in 2017. I guess 2017 is a very important year for Wehrlein, he must raise his game and improve his ability to work with his team more effectively.

That said, Force India was probably the wrong place for him to improve his talent. He wouldn't do well in a team that does not appreciate his potential properly. However, missing out on the Rosberg seat would certainly haunt him all season.

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Originally Posted by Nitrodaze

He never raced in the hybrid era of f1, hence like Di Resta, he is at a disadvantage to Bottas who has recent hybrid experience.

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Yeah, the Toyota TS050 Hybrid probably isn't a hybrid.

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Originally Posted by Rollo

Yeah, the Toyota TS050 Hybrid probably isn't a hybrid.

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Not an F1 Spec hybrid car is what l mean.

So we are entering our third week of January and Mercedes is still thinking about who their replacement for Rosberg would be. Most people suggests that it would be Bottas, but it is looking like Mercedes may be having second thoughts with the delay to announce him as their choice.
Gerhard Berger was quoted recently saying he thinks Mercedes should go with Werhlein. Some in Redbull thinks Mercedes do not have the balls to risk taking up a rookie as they have done with Verstapenn. Whatever the case, l wonder if there is a surprise twist to this story about to unfold in the following weeks?