VIDEO | What could the future hold for the Mercedes drivers?
General
When the Formula 1 season came to an end it seemed only a matter of time before Lewis Hamilton would sign new deal with Mercedes and look towards winning the 2021 title. However, here we are, a few weeks into the new year with Hamilton’s future still undecided leaving the door ever so slightly open for other possibilities. The way we see it, Mercedes have three drivers, Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Williams driver George Russell, who looks to be the man to replace Hamilton long term. But what could the future hold for these three drivers and how could the next 12 months unfold?
Lewis Hamilton
First up is Hamilton himself, and he is technically currently unemployed. His contract with Mercedes expired at the end of last year and he is yet to sign a new deal. Chances are he will sign on and look to forward to winning an eighth Formula 1 World Championship. From what we understand, he’s asking for too much money and given the current climate Mercedes aren’t too keen on it, which is the reasoning behind the delay.
Assuming he signs a new deal, he’ll be back in the cockpit as Mercedes’ number one with Bottas playing back up. There have been reports that Mercedes would be happy to promote Russell if Hamilton didn’t budge on his demands but we can’t see this happening, and our predictions for Hamilton over the next 12 months are for him to sign a new deal, secure an eighth World Championship and write himself further into the record books.
Beyond that the Brit could decide to retire at the end of the season, out on his own as the GOAT but over the years he’s shown how hungry he is for more success so he we are expecting him to keep going and look to set new boundaries. Whether that long term future is with Mercedes is another subject entirely, he’s been linked with the famous brand of Ferrari in the past but given where they are we can’t see that happening. Maybe he’ll see out his days with McLaren where he started his F1 career?
Valtteri Bottas
Bottas is entering his fifth season with Mercedes and in each one he’s shown what he is capable of and in the last two years, has led the early stages of the season. However, he’s always lacked that killer instinct and consistency for him to really mount a title charge, which is why he’s the perfect teammate. He’s good enough to score points and take wins but will rarely cause any problems for the team, allowing Hamilton to take the title.
However, after five years of doing this is it time for a change. We think so. Whilst Hamilton is around, Bottas is never going to win the title, but what about when Hamilton leaves? Mercedes will want a top top driver to ensure they’re still the best, and Bottas isn’t really that man. We think this could be Bottas’ final season in a Mercedes, because if Mercedes leave it too much longer, Russell may get restless and look elsewhere, and he is the man to fill Hamilton’s role long term. We even think Bottas could end up back at Williams, doing a direct swap with Russell. Bottas is far from a bad driver and has served Mercedes brilliantly so he still deserves a place on the grid.
George Russell
Russell is the next big thing on the grid. Along with Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, he’s part of this next generation of drivers which are already capable of mixing it at the top. Russell is yet to score a point in his two years at Williams, but missed out on a deserved victory in Sakhir with Mercedes. Despite his bad luck, the 2018 Formula 2 Champion, has showcased what he is capable of, putting his Williams into Q2 on several occasions on top of his display for Mercedes.
Russell is very much the heir to Lewis Hamilton, he’s quick, brave and has bags of talent, and many see him as a future World Champion. We think he’ll be in a Mercedes in 2022. Hamilton will be 37 when the 2022 season starts and entering the final stages of his career, if he doesn’t call it a day before that so Mercedes will be looking to lay the foundations for the future. A year as Hamilton’s understudy would do him the world of good, letting him learn what it takes to be a world champion, next to the most successful driver in history. We are predicting Russell to spend another year sharpening his skills with an ever improving Williams before making the step up in place of Bottas.
Well that’s what we the future might hold for the Mercedes trio, but what do you think could happen? Let us know in the comments below and subscribe to the GP Blog YouTube channel!