Jenson Button has explained the “problems” caused by Valtteri Botta’s Mercedes bosses who are allegedly considering removing him mid-season. George Russell’s move to Mercedes is “almost certain”, according to Russian commentator Alexey Popov.
Popov also claimed he won’t replace Lewis Hamilton on the team – which means Bottas will be the one to make way.
But Button, who has spent 17 years in Formula 1 with the likes of Williams, Renault and McLaren, doesn’t necessarily think Bottas will lose his seat because he beats Red Bulls # 2 Sergio Perez.
Button told PlanetF1: “The problem is that he does a better job at Red Bull than Checo. That’s all he has to do.
“Lewis supports Valtteri whatever he wants because it means he gets all the credit.
“Valtteri challenges him in qualifying, which drives him, but in the race it’s an easy win for Lewis and the environment is good because Lewis supports Valtteri and Valtteri doesn’t really challenge Lewis, they work together.
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“But that’s the way Formula 1 should be: to have two great drivers in a team that can fight for a world championship.”
Russell is arguably the most useful substitute for Bottas. Some reported that Mercedes could even bring the British to the mid-season, which will look highly dubious.
Mercedes has denied that this is the case and Toto Wolff, the team principal, said, “Unless he is [Bottas] catches the flu and can’t drive, he’ll be in that car “.
Russell represented a Covid-affected Hamilton at the Sakhir Grand Prix last season and was impressed.
Russell and Bottas are both no longer under contract in their teams. Hamilton admitted that he had hoped to settle the contract negotiations by August.
Wolff said: “Yes, it should be [more than a year]. We don’t want to be in a stressful situation every year where we try absolutely relentlessly to win races and have to negotiate.
“I would prefer it not to happen every year. We just have to spend a day or two together, post it there, and decide which components are difficult.
“We will then lock the door and not go out until it is sorted. This works best for us and it has worked best for us in the past. “
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