Bottas Confirmed At Mercedes

BOTTAS CONFIRMED AT MERCEDES FOR 2019

    Valtteri Bottas will continue with Mercedes for a third season after signing a one-year contract extension, with an option for a further year.

    The announcement comes just a day after the team confirmed Lewis Hamilton will remain at the squad until 2020.

    Bottas joined Mercedes in 2017 after reigning champion Nico Rosberg retired. Since then, the Finn has taken three victories, including his first F1 win in Russia last season.

    “It is great news that I will be racing for Mercedes in 2019 and it is nice to announce it here in Hockenheim – not just the home race for Mercedes but also the circuit where I took my first ever single-seater wins back in 2007,” he said.

    “This year, with a full winter of preparation, I have been able to make a good step forward – and I believe that there is still more to come. We have not been lucky in the races this year but the team knows how I am performing, and this is a great sign of confidence in me and my driving.

    I enjoy working with the team, and also being team-mates with Lewis. We have a good relationship, honest and straightforward, and always aiming to get the right results for Mercedes.”

    Bottas currently lies fifth in the drivers’ championship, with four second place finishes so far this season.

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Hamilton Confirms New Mercedes Contract

HAMILTON SIGNS NEW MERCEDES CONTRACT

    Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has signed a two year contract to continue at Mercedes until 2020.

    Hamilton joined the Mercedes work team in 2013, and has since scored 44 victories with the squad.

    Despite being approached by a rival team, the four time world champion said resigning with Mercedes was a formality and he’d agreed to continue with the squad over the winter.

    “This contract extension has basically been a formality, since Toto and I sat down during the winter, so it’s good to put pen to paper, announce it and then get on with business as usual,” he said.

    “I have been part of the Mercedes racing family for 20 years and I have never been happier inside a team than I am right now.

    We are on the same wavelength both on and off track – and I am looking forward to winning more in the future and shining even more light on the three-pointed star. I’m very confident that Mercedes is the right place to be over the coming years.”

    Hamilton is only the third driver to be confirmed for the 2019 Formula 1 season, along with Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari and Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

    Hamilton’s 2018 team-mate Valtteri Bottas is yet to announce his plans for the upcoming season.

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Mercedes Launch 2018 Car

(Image credit to: Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport)

    Mercedes has launched its 2018 Formula 1 challenger, the W09 EQ Power+, at a filming day at Silverstone.

    Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton both got a small taste of the new machinery, completing 100km of the British track between them.

    After a successful 2017, the new car is an evolution of its predecessor, with no major change in design philosophy.

    “We like some of the character traits from our diva,” said team principal Toto Wolf. “The W08 was the fastest car on the grid, scoring the highest number of pole positions and winning the most races last year. So we were careful not to lose the car’s main strength just to overcome the difficulties.”

    Like with all 2018 cars, the most notable differences are the lack of shark fin and T-wing and the addition of the halo head protection device, but the technical regulations have remained largely the same, which technical director James Allison believes allowed the team to make a more elegant car this year.

    “Last year’s regulations were brand new and we weren’t quite sure which direction they would take us in,” he said. “So last year’s car had a certain amount of wiggle room to adapt if we found that we needed to move around certain aspects of the car.

    This year, being a little more confident of what we’re aiming for, we’ve been able to commit more fully to certain concepts. So we have the packaging much tighter and have taken things to more of an extreme.”

    Since the change in engine regulations ahead of the 2014 season, the Mercedes power unit has been dominant. Though the manufacturer has never been able to stand still when it comes to engine development, “substantial” changes in the regulations have led to significant updates this winter.

    “The amount of change on the power unit for this year is quite considerable and driven by a number of requirements,” said Andy Cowell, managing director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains.. “The biggest challenge we’ve got is lifting our durability limit with the challenge of racing just three engines per driver per championship and two ERS systems.

    That’s a 40 per cent increase in the distance that the hardware needs to do for this year compared with last year. We focused on trying to increase the life of the hardware without losing performance.”

    He added that the team also worked to increase combustion efficiency and reduce hardware friction.

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Mercedes Reveal W08

MERCEDES REVEAL THE W08

    Whilst many teams have answered the regulation changes with radical new designs, Mercedes have opted to stay as traditional as possible with their 2017 challenger, the W08 EQ Power+.

    The car Lewis Hamilton ran ahead of the official launch was tightly packaged at the rear and had a large floor. Most notable, though, was the lack of shark fin that has been favoured by most of the other teams that have launched so far, though the team tested the fin later in the day.

    “The new rules for 2017 were designed to make the fastest F1 cars ever through a big increase in aerodynamic performance,” said team boss Toto Wolff. “They should be more physical to drive and hopefully more spectacular for the fans to watch. The proof will come in the opening races, but we have probably achieved that target.”

    Mercedes have dominated the championship since the need engine regulations came into play in 2014, but the team isn’t taking anything for granted.

    “In terms of relative performance, it’s clear that any rule change brings with it a big reset but also a big opportunity,” said Wolff. “This is the time to stay humble and keep our feet on the ground. None of the teams have raced under these rules, and we all have the same points right now: zero.”

    Wolff also hinted that the car Hamilton and new teammate Valtteri Bottas drove at Silverstone won’t stay the same throughout the season.

    “This year, in season development will play a big role in determining the championship outcome. None of us know where we will stand at the first race but I am confident that, whatever that position is, we have the people and the capability to deal with every challenge that comes our way. This will be the season where our full works team can show its true strength."

    Mercedes has also opted to keep the familiar silver and turquoise colour scheme as Petronas remains onboard.

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Bottas Confirmed At Mercedes

VALTTERI BOTTAS CONFIRMED AT MERCEDES FOR 2017

    The worst kept secret in Formula One – that Valtteri Bottas was set to replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes – has finally been confirmed.

    The Finnish driver makes the switch from Williams, where he started his Formula One career, and will join Lewis Hamilton at the constructors’ championship winning team.

    Team boss Toto Wolff described Rosberg’s decision to leave the team as a “challenging situation” but is happy to have Bottas – who he manages – on the team.

    “Nico’s decision in December was a big surprise – certainly a challenging situation for the team to handle,” he said. “But weathering the storm makes you more resilient and we see this as another opportunity for the team to grow."

    “Valtteri is a no-nonsense guy: down to earth, straightforward and very honest… He has an impressive track record in the junior categories and nine podiums in F1. But now it’s time for the next level, to see how he can set up to challenge for race wins and for the Championships.”

    Bottas is, understandably, pleased with the move. Bottas’ best finish for Williams was second in 2014. In the Mercedes, it’s unlikely he’ll be challenging for anything other than wins.

    “It’s definitely another dream come true, to race in another team with such great history, especially in the recent years, which have been so impressive,” he said. “I’m really proud to become a part of that and grateful to everyone at Mercedes for trusting my skills and giving me this opportunity."

    “I know the Power Unit well from the last three years with Williams, but there are a lot of new things to learn with the car and also with how the team operates at the factory, in testing, and at races.”

    Should Manor not continue in Formula One, Bottas will be the last driver confirmed for the 2017 season, as Felipe Massa returns to Williams to take his former teammate’s seat. With the new regulations in place, this could be even more of a hindrance to Mercedes than usual, meaning the team and Bottas have a busy time ahead to get the Finn up to speed.

    Wolff is confident Bottas is up for the challenge though.

    “We have confidence in Valtteri’s ability, and it’s one of the reasons that he is the driver we set our sights on this winter,” he said. “The next weeks will be busy as we work to build relationships so Valtteri understands the team and the car. But that’s an exciting challenge that will bring us fresh energy and a new dynamic between the drivers. And, of course, we’re working hard to give Lewis and Valtteri the car they need to do the job.”

    Nico Rosberg will come back to the team in an ambassadorial role in 2017.

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Paddy Lowe Leaves Mercedes

LOWE LEAVES MERCEDES

    Mercedes Executive Technical Director Paddy Lowe is now on gardening leave ahead of leaving the team. It’s expected he will move to Williams as part of the deal to secure Valtteri Bottas to replace Nico Rosberg.

    Lowe has been a part of the Mercedes team for three years, and played a key role in the team’s domination in recent years.

    Though Mercedes didn’t name a replacement for the outgoing technical chief – the “stable” organisation will run under its current Engineering, Performance, and Technology directors, and their chief operating officer – it’s expected James Allison will join the team from Ferrari after his own gardening leave.

    “Paddy has played an important part in our success during the past three and a half years and we thank him for his contribution to this significant chapter in Mercedes’ motorsport history,” said Toto Wolff.

    “Success in Formula 1 is not about single individual but about the strength in depth and technical capability of an organisation."

    “We have the talent in place to continue our success of recent years and we plan to build upon it in 2017 and beyond.”

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Nico Rosberg Retires From Formula 1

NICO ROSBERG ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM F1

    Nico Rosberg has announced his retirement from Formula One only a week after winning the World Drivers Championship for the first time.

    Rosberg thanked everybody who “supported me to make that dream happen” after announcing he would be leaving the series, despite having already signed a contract to stay at Mercedes for the 2017 season.

    “This season, I tell you, it was so damn tough. I pushed like crazy in every area after the disappointments of the last two years; they fueled my motivation to levels I had never experienced before,” Rosberg said. “And, of course, that had an impact on the ones I love too – it was a whole family effort of sacrifice, putting everything behind our target.”

     Rosberg told few people about his intentions to retire, making the announcement a shock to most of the motorsports world.

     “When I won the race in Suzuka, from the moment when the destiny of the title was in my own hands, the big pressure started and I bag to think about ending my racing career if I became World Champion,” he said. “On Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi, I knew that it could be my last race and that feeling cleared my head before the start. I wanted to enjoy every part of the experience, knowing it might be the last time."

    Rosberg said he decided on Monday evening, the day after securing the title.

     Team boss Toto Wolff has said the team will start looking for a replacement on Monday. Mercedes junior driver Pascal Wehrlein is thought to be a favourite, but Fernando Alonso is one of a number of drivers also rumoured to be heading to the team.

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Rosberg Extends Mercedes Contract

ROSBERG EXTENDS MERCEDES CONTRACT

    Nico Rosberg has extended his contract with Mercedes F1 team for two more years. The German was set to be out of contract at the end of the season, but the new contract will keep him at the championship team until the end of 2018.

    Mercedes said in a statement that he has played a crucial role in the team’s success since joining in 2010. In that time, Rosberg has finished second in the championship twice, helping the team to two teams’ championships and a second place.

    The move is no doubt a boost for Rosberg, who is battling against team mate Lewis Hamilton for the drivers’ title. Hamilton will also be at the team next year.

    The extension removes one more seat for silly season to speculate about, leaving few what can be considered “top” seats left for those drivers still looking to secure a 2017 drive.

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Feature: Star Drivers Of The Abu Dhabi GP

Frances Fry - "This time, I have to acknowledge the championship winner. He had some tough times at the start of the season but he never gave up and pushed on. Clearly this faith paid off as he is now the 2014 Formula 1 World Champion and that is a title to be proud of. I'm sure if you asked him how he felt, Lewis Hamilton would be speechless. Winning a second world championship can do that to a person. 

The reason he's my driver of the weekend is not just because he won the championship, but because despite all the hype that he could win, he kept his cool and pushed for the entire race. He kept a strong faith in himself and his team and trusted his judgment. 

I would like to congratulate Lewis, his family and his team but also, Rosberg, for finishing the race and coming second in a championship. That too is a great achievement."

Amy Hawk - "My driver of the weekend is the same as Frances' choice. Lewis Hamilton. What a humble and deserving driver. Getting that first Championship is a good feeling, but getting your second really tops the list.

He really held on through the whole season, fighting his way through troublesome qualifying sessions and tough races. In the end, he came out on top and never lost his cool while doing so. So huge congrats to Lewis and the Mercedes team! It's been a spectacular year! On to 2015 now!"

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Hamilton VS. Rosberg

It's no secret that there has been friction between the two team mates at Mercedes. 

The first signs of this was at the GP in Monaco. In the third qualifying session Rosberg experienced some difficulties and found himself having to use an escape road. At the time of this happening, Hamilton just happened to be on his "podium lap" when the session was given the red flag and ended early, not allowing Hamilton to finish his lap. 

Almost instantly, fans took their sides. Some saying Rosberg had done it on purpose and others agreeing it was a mere accident. 

Again on race day, friction was evident. On the podium the two could barely stand next to each other. It was especially clear on Lewis' face that he was uncomfortable. The team, as you'd expect, sat down and spoke about it. 

Fans were told there were no issues between the drivers and they remained friends. Despite this, there still remains a lot of obvious unhappiness between the two. Lewis seemed to be taking it harder until very recently when Rosberg has been greeted by booing on the podium.

Although Rosberg appears to be handling the situation very well, you can imagine it isn't the sort of way you want to start a podium finish celebration. 

After such a strong start to an incredible season for the team, some are questioning if this situation could jeopardise the championship win for the team. I suppose all we can do for now is wait and see what happens in the final rounds of the season.

Article Written By: Frances Fry

Edited By: Amy Hawk

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton - “It was a good feeling to finally get back on the top step at Monza - especially after another tough start to the race. The car was just flying out there after those difficult first few laps and it was great to be able to capitalise on the pace I felt I'd had right from the beginning of the weekend. Obviously, with Nico coming second I haven't been able to close the gap too much - but there's still plenty of points to be won and I'm glad to have taken a step forwards. Despite the highs and lows, I'm still well and truly in the hunt for the championship and that is something that gives me huge motivation for the final six races - starting in Singapore. It's a great place to begin the final flyaway phase of the season. The city is buzzing and the track is mega. It's a street circuit and I love street circuits. I won there in 2009 which was a really special experience, plus I had a podium - which should really have been a win - at the first race in 2008. My luck hasn't been great at this circuit since then but hopefully that will change next weekend.”

Nico Rosberg - “Even though it didn't work out quite the way I'd hoped, there were still plenty of positives to take away from Monza. Once again our Silver Arrow looked super quick compared to our rivals and hopefully we can carry that right through to the end of the season. Of course, I was disappointed to drop points to my team mate in the championship battle - but I still have the lead and I'm determined to hold on to it. Next up it's the Singapore Grand Prix, which is definitely one of the highlights of the year. There's an amazing atmosphere and the whole city really comes to life for the race weekend. It's just unreal - I would really recommend anybody to go there if they can as it's a fantastic experience. The circuit, the city, the atmosphere... everything! The way they basically shut down a whole place just for Formula One is incredible and it's amazing to think of all the work that must go into making it happen. I got my second ever podium here with P2 in 2008 and I generally enjoy street circuits, so I'm looking to go one better this time around.”

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