Formula 1: Valtteri Bottas tipped to return to Mercedes in 2020

By Asher Fair | Aug 24, 2019

HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY - JULY 26: Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes GP prepares to drive in the garage during practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Germany at Hockenheimring on July 26, 2019 in Hockenheim, Germany. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /

Valtteri Bottas has been tipped to remain at Mercedes for the fourth consecutive year in the 2020 Formula 1 season despite rumors that he would be replaced.

Valtteri Bottas is in his third consecutive Formula 1 season driving for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, but perhaps most importantly at this time of year, he is in his third consecutive contract season driving for the team.

Last July, the 29-year-old Finn signed a one-year contract extension with an additional one-year option that the Brackley-based team could pick up to retain him for the 2020 season. They did not pick up this option, but that does not eliminate a future contract from being agreed upon between the two parties.

There had been rumors that the Silver Arrows would not go down this path and instead sign Mercedes reserve driver Esteban Ocon or perhaps even lure Max Verstappen away from Aston Martin Red Bull Racing.

However, Bottas has been tipped to return to the team for the 2020 season on a new contract.

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Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff previously urged Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul to “restore his gentleman image” by signing Ocon for the 2020 season after Abiteboul backed out of a handshake agreement that the two parties had for the 2019 season that would have sent the 22-year-old Frenchman to the French marque.

Instead of signing Ocon, a former Renault test driver, to replace Carlos Sainz Jr., Renault ended up signing Daniel Ricciardo to a two-year contract once he made the shocking announcement that he would leave Red Bull Racing after the 2018 season.

As a result of Wolff’s recent request, it became fairly obvious that he is not quite ready for Ocon to be promoted to the factory Mercedes team yet.

Additionally, Red Bull Racing team manager Helmut Marko confirmed that the performance exit clause in Verstappen’s contract has now expired, so the 21-year-old Dutchman is set to return to the Milton Keynes-based team next year.

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An official confirmation about Valtteri Bottas returning to Mercedes for the 2020 Formula 1 season has not yet been made, but it is expected to be made within the next week or so, as Toto Wolff previously stated that the goal was to have a decision made by the end of August and thus before the 2019 summer break ends.

Formula 1 action is scheduled to resume on Sunday, September 1 with the Belgian Grand Prix. This race, which is the 13th of 21 races on the 2019 schedule, is set to be broadcast live on ESPN2 from Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot, Belgium beginning at 9:05 a.m. ET.

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