Brawn: Bottas only flaw in Mercedes' 2018 campaign

While it is true that Bottas could have won one of those races without team orders (Baku wasn't team orders), I think it's disingenuous to suggest that Bottas was at the same level he was last year. Not even in terms of raw pace, but making unforced errors. If you were to tell me that Bottas was brought it as a hard #2 driver who isn't allowed to win races, the sure. But he's won races. He's finished ahead of Lewis. Team orders haven't been applied in every situation. So I put the blame largely on Bottas. I'll concede that after Russia he might have been demoralized. But the fact remains that he wasn't any worse in terms of performance after Russia. It was an overall mediocre year.

Im not suggesting he is on the same level, but I am however pointing out that he wasnt the issue this year.

So what are you suggesting the issue was? I thought your point was that Bottas was not allowed to fight.

Thats kinda what I start feel too. Except he isnt that horribly overpriced. But he really need to just say screw team orders next year when it comes to switching to Hammy every time it makes Toto feel good.

I think Bottas' value is well known now. Not top tier, but just barely outside of it. He can be either a solid #2 driver for a top team, or a leader for a midfield team. Maybe he could shine like Raikkonen did with Lotus and increase his stock. But right now, he's just a #2. Not quite as pathetic as Massa, Barrichello, or Raikkonen* were at Ferrari. But he's working his way there.

*Ok Raikkonen was not embarrassing this year, but he was on every other year of his second stint with Ferrari

Bottas has nothing to loose next year, to say 'screw team orders'. The way i see it, Ocon is joining Merc. in 2020. So, Bottas needs to add some wins and show some overtaking prowess to his potential employers like Williams, Force India, Haas....

I think you're right. But I'm not convinced that Ocon is the one to replace Bottas. I rate Ocon and Bottas around the same. Both have good raw pace, but when it comes to racecraft and consistency both are lacking. Pérez beat Ocon two years in a row in terms of overall performance/points. Qualifying is the only place where he whooped Pérez. I think there are plenty of more talented juniors and seniors ahead of Ocon.

I donno… I personally rate Ocon higher than Bottas. He outqualified Perez 16-5, the only drivers to have better qualistat against their teammates were Alonso, Vettel and Leclerc. And Ocon managed that against Perez, whom I rate higher than Vandoorne, Räikkönen and Ericsson. So I think Ocon has raw pace equal to the top drivers. He has, however, gotten himself into silly situations during the race, much like Verstappen has in the past. I think if Ocon learns to keep a cool head his racecraft will improve. Race stat Ocon vs. Perez was 10-11 (DNF 5-2). Points diff: 13, but a large portion of that points diff comes from when Perez managed a podium in Baku when 7 cars DNF including Bottas, Verstappen, Ricciardo and Ocon. And Vettel only managed fourth because of a bad strategy from Ferrari. So if I was Bottas I’d be worried about being replaced, and if he doesn’t start looking out for himself rather than the team he’ll have a hard time getting hired if he is replaced.