Toto Wolff drops hint Mercedes could sign Sebastian Vettel to partner Lewis Hamilton
SEBASTIAN VETTEL could join Mercedes at the end of the 2017 season, according to team boss Toto Wolff.
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James Gray
James Gray
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Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton could be team-mates at Mercedes in 2017
Valtteri Bottas was unveiled on Monday as Mercedes' new driver alongside Lewis Hamilton, after Nico Rosberg retired as world champion last month.
But the Finn, who was released by Williams after lengthy negotiations, was only given a one-year contract.
And Wolff wants to keep his options open when a number of top drivers reach the end of their current deals.
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"We wouldn't have chosen Valtteri if we thought that he was not good enough to continue with the team," Wolff told Finnish podcast Formulacast.
"But as a matter of fact, the market is very dynamic at the moment.
"Next year, options open – young drivers, Sebastian [Vettel], Fernando [Alonso], Valtteri – many of them.
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Toto Wolff has only given Valtteri Bottas a one-year contract at Mercedes
"So it is about understanding that, and Valtteri does."
Vettel is currently under contract with Ferrari but went winless last season and has not stood on the top step of the podium since September 2015.
Ferrari team boss Sergio Marchionne has criticised the German for failing to keep a cool head in the car last season, suggesting that he may not renew with the team when his deal expires at the end of 2017.
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Sebastian Vettel has had his struggles with Ferrari since leaving Red Bull
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And Wolff, who has always said that he wants the two strongest drivers possible in his team, is open about the fact that Bottas may not be given a second contract at Mercedes.
"We have great faith and confidence in [Valtteri] that he can stay with us for a long time, but now we need to see how the season goes," Wolff added.
Mercedes had initially been considering promoting Pascal Wehrlein from their young driver programme into the vacant seat.
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However, his inexperience and mediocre showing in his debut season last year led them to Bottas, who has raced 78 times in F1.
"We decided that it was too early for Pascal to become Lewis' teammate," Wolff said.
"For Pascal and [fellow Mercedes young driver programme member] Esteban Ocon we have our own programme, designed for two or three years."
Wehrlein will instead drive for Sauber in 2017 while Ocon will join Sergio Perez at Force India.
The driver line-up for 2017 is now all but complete – only Manor Racing have not announced their drivers as they have been placed under administration and may not take part at all.
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