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Good lord, the Bottas question... On his day he is capable of delivering hot laps on a Saturday, and leading from the front on a Sunday. I too have question marks over his ability in wheel to wheel combat like Morini. Last year there were a few races where he was either mugged completely, or just didn't get the job done in terms of making an overtake. I also agree with Morini that Rosberg lacked in that department too, but crucially he did get moves done, and a few times got them done on Lewis.
I think people still underestimate Rosberg, in terms of gap to Lewis in qualifying he is actually, on average, the stiffest competition he has had in his career, he was closer on average than both Button AND Alonso, surely that counts for something? I know there were mitigating circumstances in the Alonso and Hamilton battle at McLaren, but still, that's impressive from Rosberg. Bottas in his third season alongside Hamilton is behind all of those three in terms of how close he is to Lewis on a Saturday only beating Heikki Kovalainen who was just way off of Lewis' pace.
Yet, and this is crucial to say, Bottas is a quick one lap qualifier. Lewis is the only team mate in his career to consistently out qualify him, we've also all seen those monumental laps he's put in when he does best Lewis. The trouble is Lewis, like all the greats, has a way of making good drivers look average, and I feel that is what is happening with Bottas.
He's started 2019 really well, like he did 2018, and that's to be commended. My worry is this, after 3 races and Bottas putting in at times what looks like a monumental effort who is leading the WDC right now? Bottas had no answer to Lewis in Bahrain, and here in China Lewis' pace when he needed it was actually 1 second a lap quicker in the race. Bottas wasn't slower, his pace was consistent, Lewis just had other gears to go to. Bottas needs to maintain this level, and hope Lewis doesn't hit his stride, or is hit with mechanical gremlins like he was in 2016, to beat Lewis.
So does he deserve that drive? On current form it is hard to argue he doesn't. He brings points into the team and is a good consistent points scorer, and on the rate off weekends for Lewis you can rely on him to deliver something for the team. He apparently likes a similar car to Lewis, so that helps the team deliver a razor sharp focused car, that in turn allows Lewis to deliver, and the two of them to work on race set up together every weekend. That shouldn't be down played. Are there other drivers on the grid who'd be better than him at that? I'm not sure, but that does mean you're picking him for that seat as NeilP says as a wingman. That's a valid decision, but given that we have maybe four seats in F1 right now capable of giving someone a WDC and Ferrari have already decided it's only one of their cars that'll get a shot, Mercedes having effectively chosen a wingman does reduce that number by 1 yet again.
Which, if Mercedes are heading back towards dominant cars... no. Hell no. He isn't, in my opinion, capable of maintaing this level throughout a season, in one off races sure, but consistently in 21 of them? No. Rosberg was, and did, and 3 seasons out of 4 still came up short against Lewis. So if Mercedes are back in all conquering territory again (still not sure they are, but there are signs) then I'd want a driver in the other car capable of challenging Lewis consistently, not a wingman who is able to help Lewis shine.
So the question is then who of the available options would do that? Ocon? Not sure right now, he is quick, no question, he's also shown very decent race craft, he can stick a move on someone and is capable of surprising a car in front by making a pass where nobody expects one. That move a few seasons back on Hulkenberg in Spa was cheeky as hell. I think Mercedes need to get him in a car, whether it's a Merc is debatable, but why not? We've seen what Bottas can do, why not give the kid a chance?
However, I think the real options that would push Lewis would be Max Verstappen and Danny Ricciardo. Trouble is Danny is at Renault, and has yet to prove he can take on the Hulk. If he doesn't beat Hulkenberg comfortably this season I think it'll tarnish his reputation and scupper any chance of a move to the big teams. Max on the other hand has a performance release clause, and would cause Lewis all sorts of problems...
But here's the thing, if we're looking at the options right now, and we're saying only Max and Danny for sure are ahead of Bottas, and maybe Ocon, well, doesn't that say a lot for Bottas? Much will depend on how things shape up by the summer break. If the Merc is dominant and Bottas can challenge, great. If he can't? Get shot of him. If it isn't dominant then it's a tough one. Is Bottas' good enough in that scenario for the team? Yeah, probably. But does he have the possibility of being the future of the team? No. In that scenario Ocon or maybe Russell become the wiser choice for Mercedes.
. I think you are all being a bit harsh on him to be honest. There are drivers in your list Anti who haven't shown all that much either.![[+]](https://www.f1banter.co.uk/images/bootbb/collapse_collapsed.png)
