Sebastian Vettel will be on Mercedes' list when the great German team comes to thinking about the 2018 driver lineup. That is the view of Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, who brought the German driver into F1 and guided him to four world championships.
Vettel subsequently switched to Ferrari, but although hopes are high for 2017, the great Italian team's results have not been up to scratch until now. "Vettel is one of the best and the smartest in the field," 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve told Germany's Auto Bild. "But 2017 will be a decisive year for him."
However, some think Vettel was actually equalled or even bettered on a personal level in 2016 by his teammate, Kimi Raikkonen. "Frankly, Sebastian's results from 2016 did not reflect his class," former boss Marko insisted. "There were some races where he would have done much better if he just wasn't unlucky. Now, he will definitely try to be successful and in the end decide what will be the best for him personally," he added.
Marko thinks Mercedes signing Valtteri Bottas only for 2017, amid the expiring contracts of Vettel and Fernando Alonso, will have been no coincidence. "Mercedes will be interested in them for 2018," he agrees. (GMM)
It would make sense to make a play for Vettel. He's German, still in his prime and by all accounts a professional.
I don't see the point of Alonso though. Maybe he's not past his prime yet, but he's getting there. When you also take into account that he more often than not end up causing friction within his team, then I really don't see why a well oiled machine like Mercedes would take a chance on him.
If Hulkenberg doesn't deliver, I could see him returning to Renault, maybe even joined by Sainz
Say what you want, I'd love to see Seb and Fernando at Mercedes together in 2018, with (to coin a much heard phrase) ButtHurtBoy out in the cold. Whatever Ferrari do isn't right, whether it be good or bad, and I firmly believe that Kimi is as strong as he has ever been - 2018 with Kimi and Giovinazzi at Maranello to complement Massa and Stroll would be great in my books, and it's about time Ferrari gave a chance to some young, unproven, blood - anybody remember a certain Gilles Villeneuve?
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C. Sainz jr
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Barron
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Well if that doesn't incentivise Bottas to succeed this year, nothing will! So, what would happen to Breakdance Boy?