Could Mercedes have an all-new line-up in 2018? It’s unlikely but both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas’ futures are yet to be decided.
In the case of Hamilton, he has claimed he has the power to decide when he wishes to bring his Formula 1 career to an end and that, if he so wished, that could be the end of this year.
It is well-known the Briton is keen to do other projects away from F1, with fashion and music both passions of his and having already matched so many accomplishments of his hero Ayrton Senna, he has also previously stated there is nothing left for him to achieve in the sport.
“My destiny is in my own hands,” the 32-year-old, who joined the F1 grid with McLaren 10 years ago, told the FIA magazine Auto.
“I can decide to stop at the end of this year. Does that mean my legacy is less great than it would be if I stop in five years’ time? Who’s to say?”.
“I don’t like to plan for it because I don’t know what’s around the corner, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Perhaps after the controversial events in Abu Dhabi last year it may have been a consideration for Hamilton, before world champion Nico Rosberg elected himself to call it a day, but now it does seem the three-time world champion is enjoying F1 a lot more as he battles Sebastian Vettel for the 2017 title.
“Yeah, right now it’s solely the competition,” Lewis claimed.
“It’s also easier battling another team. When it is all within a team it’s just like a big vortex and depending on the tension it gets stronger and stronger. That is actually not really what a team is built to be.
“Now having another team (to fight) we are pulling together with that same drive — it’s just so much more powerful, it’s really awesome.”
As for team-mate Valtteri Bottas, his fate is in the hands of Mercedes bosses, after only joining on a one year deal at the start of this season.
There have also been rumours linking Vettel to the Brackley-based team for next year, but the Finn’s former manager Toto Wolff insists they are pleased with how he is performing.
“The call he received was pretty late, he’s driving against one of the best driver’s in F1 that has been with the team in his fifth season and he’s had a pole position, won a race in Sochi in a very dominant way,” the Austrian commented.
“He’s also had the more difficult races but overall his performance on-track and the way he has integrated with the team was very positive.”
Wolff would acknowledge Bottas is in an “uncomfortable situation” regarding his future, but insisted: “When we decided to make Valtteri the offer, he knew that we would be taking our time for the decision going forward because the driver market is more open in 2018 and beyond, 2018 and 2019.
“He knew that, so that’s why we will not rush into a decision but continue to work with him and see how that pans out. But generally, the view of the team is that he’s done a good job.”
