'Bottas in talks with Renault for a seat in 2021'

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff will hold the boat when it comes to the drivers in the team for 2021. According to sources, this is why Valtteri Bottas is already exploring his options for the next season and is in talks with Renault.

There are rumours that Mercedes will be driving with a champion couple in 2021, with Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in the ranks. Of course there will be no place left for Bottas, who has only received contracts for one year since his arrival at Mercedes.

That doesn't instill much confidence in the Finn, who has to fight for his place in the top team every year. To make sure he can stay in Formula 1 in 2021, according to Motorsport-Total.com he is exploring his options. According to sources on the site, Didier Coton, Bottas' manager and Wolff's business partner, and Cyril Abiteboul, Renault's team boss, have met.

Since the departure of Daniel Ricciardo the team does not have a second driver for 2021. Renault has a few juniors in its ranks, but with a fairly young driver like Esteban Ocon, the team might want to have a more experienced driver in the second seat. There were rumours that Fernando Alonso might return to the team, but now it looks like Bottas has a chance to win the seat.

Meanwhile, Toto Wolff's lips remain tight. Mercedes' team boss doesn't want to make any statements yet about the drivers who will be driving for the team in 2021. He wants to see what the current season will bring before he starts talking about contracts.