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Former Formula One driver Gerhard Berger believes that Pascal Wehrlein would be better for Mercedes, rather than Valtteri Bottas. After Nico Rosberg announced his shock retirement after winning the world championship, Mercedes began the search for a new driver.
It seemingly has wittled down to Wehrlein and Bottas, with Bottas looking the favourite after a factory tour and a rumoured seat fitting. "I would have taken Wehrlein to underline my own young driver programme," Berger told Auto Motor und Sport. "Wehrlein always left a convincing impression in this programme. You will only see how good he really is when you put him in a top car."
Berger admits that promoting Wehrlein would be a risk, but doesn't think that Bottas did a good enough job at Williams in 2016 to deserve a top drive. "In comparison to Bottas, Wehrlein is a risk, for sure," Berger continued. "Therefore, maybe the clever solution is not the one that springs to mind first and foremost. I hold Bottas in high esteem. He's quick, a good team player, a nice person and he has earned the chance to prove himself. On the other hand he didn't destroy Massa enough for us to be saying: He's the right choice."
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (1)
Login to replydr002
Posts: 141
I’d have to agree with Berger that Bottas did not do “a good enough job at Williams in 2016 to deserve a top drive”. Particularly when considering the number of times that in qualifying Massa either crashed out, stuffed up or was obstructed (excluding DNF’s, of which there were 5 (2 Bottas / 3 Massa), Bottas only finished ahead 9 times to - a career ending - Massa’s 7).
To my way of thinking, at best, such stats would not warrant an offer beyond the 2017 season, unless Mercedes retained the option to move Bottas back to Williams for 2018 should he not take a giant step forward this year.
To me, Bottas to Mercedes just does not make sense when considering: 1. Bottas’ 2016 performance; 2. the supposed cost to break his contract with Williams and to reinstate Massa; and that, 3. Vettel and Alonso will be back on the market in 2018, whilst Ricciardo will have only 12 months left on his contract – 3 superior options in terms of performance and marketability (particularly Ricciardo, given his popularity in the evolving US market).