Formula One: Which drivers will drive for Mercedes and Ferrari in 2019?

By Asher Fair | Oct 14, 2017

MONTMELO, SPAIN - MAY 14: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes F1 WO8 leads Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF70H on track during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on May 14, 2017 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /

9 of 14

SUZUKA, JAPAN – OCTOBER 08: Valtteri Bottas driving the (77) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes F1 WO8 (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /

Why Valtteri Bottas is not listed

Valtteri Bottas, 28, is currently in his first season as a Mercedes driver. While he has been having a career-best season, he hasn’t been nearly as successful as the other two drivers who have driven for Mercedes since the team became a dominant force in Formula One in 2014 when the the Mercedes PU106A Hybrid 1.6 V6 turbocharger engine era began.

Bottas does have two victories this season, his first two career victories, but he sits in 3rd place in the drivers standings 72 points behind points leader Lewis Hamilton with four races remaining. Since 2014, Mercedes drivers have always finished in 1st and 2nd place in the drivers standings, with Hamilton winning the championship in 2014 and 2015 and Nico Rosberg winning it in 2016. Hamilton and Rosberg never finished more than 67 points apart in the final standings.

Bottas recently signed a one-year deal to remain with the team in 2018. If Mercedes was sold on him as their clear #2 driver, he would have been signed for longer. Sure, it’s his first season with the team and he can’t expected to come in and win 10 races, and if he were to improve next season, he may be signed for longer.

Home/Formula One