The most important three seats on the Formula 1 grid that could change owners for 2018 will not be resolved anytime soon it seems.
Both Ferrari drivers and Valtteri Bottas are all out of contract at the end of this year with speculation already considering possible driver changes.
Sebastian Vettel is being linked to a seat at Mercedes for next year, though the chances of a possible Vettel/ Hamilton partnership at the German manufacturer would likely be slim.
It is thought Ferrari may look to the next generation of drivers, with names like Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez linked to replace a then retiring Kimi Raikkonen, while Bottas was hurried to Mercedes this year following Nico Rosberg’s shock retirement and will need to convince Toto Wolff to keep him on.
With the two teams currently embroiled in a battle with each other for this year’s championship, at Maranello, team boss Maurizio Arrivabene claims no talks are currently underway regarding their future line-up.
“We are not thinking about contracts now, we are thinking about the championship,” he said.
“They are two separate issues. We are all concentrated. As I have said many, many times we are working altogether, including the drivers, we are very focused on our job and I have to say the contract is not an issue.”
That’s despite a report last week that Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne does want at least Vettel’s future decided by the Italian Grand Prix in September.
As for Bottas, he too isn’t looking beyond this year and hopes his results will make that decision easier.
“Of course I hope to stay at Mercedes,” The Finn, who won his first Grand Prix in Russia earlier this year, reportedly told Sky Italia.
“But it’s still too early to talk about it. I’m thinking about doing well day by day, race by race so I’m focusing on the present,” Bottas explained.
“If I do well in the future then it will be downhill.”
One thing the 27-year-old thinks is in his favour, however, is the harmony at Mercedes between himself and Lewis Hamilton.
“We will get to know each other better during the season because before this year I didn’t know Lewis well,” he said.
“We are definitely very different. I like to stay in a calm environment, at home with my family. I care very much about my privacy, while Lewis is more social and good around people.
“But we have a very professional relationship and respect, but at the same time, we want to beat each other on the track. We accept this and can work together well.
“I think there’s a great team spirit,” he added.
