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Opinion: The next three Grands Prix are the most important races in Bottas' career

Opinion: The next three Grands Prix are the most important races in Bottas' career

27-11-2020 10:00
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The 2020 F1 World Championship is over. Despite that fact, the next three races are going to be the most important Grands Prix in Valtteri Bottas’ career. He must impress, otherwise, his stint inside the fastest car on the grid is coming to an end after 2021. 

It’s hard to claim that the Finnish driver is out of form with two runner-up trophies in his cabinet from the last three races. But he was totally dominated by Lewis Hamilton in Portugal, wouldn’t have finished 2nd in Imola had Max Verstappen’s tyre not exploded, and he got lapped last time out in Turkey while his teammate stormed to victory. 

He has won just two races across the season. A feat he managed to record after just four Grands Prix in 2019. Under pressure, Bottas has made some crucial mistakes. Yet he still gets handed a shiny fresh contract year after year by Toto Wolff and co. 

What do Mercedes want?

Mercedes want a teammate who can pull in results which, combined with Hamilton, are strong enough to secure the Constructors’ Championship. They also want that perfect “wingman” who doesn’t get in the way of Hamilton’s push towards the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth…World Championship. 

Once again in 2020, Bottas has ticked those boxes. Though had Mercedes opted to save some money and competed with just the 44 car, they’d have still beaten Red Bull Racing to the Constructors’ Championship! 

 
 
 
 
 
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Sport is always going to have “ifs, buts, and maybes”. And as the strongest team who everyone is hunting down, Mercedes must be prepared for every outcome. 

If Red Bull had a second driver capable of performing at the front of the grid himself, supporting Verstappen’s strategy and taking points off Bottas and Hamilton whenever possible, then it could have been a different story. 

In terms of rules and regulations, not much is going to change between Abu Dhabi in December, and Australia in March. Should Red Bull opt outside of their talent pool for someone like Nico Hulkenberg or Sergio Perez, Red Bull might get a little closer but not close enough to provide a strong challenge. Hence why Bottas has the 2021 Mercedes contract. 

2022 is a different story 

But it’s entirely feasible that Red Bull Racing will be able to compete for the 2022 World Championship. The rule and regulation book will look different. While the engines are going to stay the same, there’s nothing to say that Red Bull won’t find a new “double diffuser” kind of advantage. 

Mercedes need to cover their backs. And, as it stands, Bottas is not strong enough for this. The 31-year-old needs to prove he can produce the results that Mercedes need under a serious title challenge. 

And during the triple header, Bottas must put a strong marker down and start proving to Mercedes he has what it takes. He has an opportunity to radiate positive vibes in the Mercedes camp through winter if he does well now. And let’s not forget Nico Rosberg’s 2016 World Championship started with three consecutive wins in the final few races of the 2015 season. When Hamilton was laid back. 

Should he make some mistakes, Verstappen has a chance to beat him to second in the World Championship. With Mercedes being so dominate over the 2020 season, not getting the one-two in the Drivers’ Championship will look terrible on Bottas’ CV. 

If he wants to really secure that seat in 2022, his work starts this weekend. Otherwise, Mercedes will look at the likes of George Russell, Lando Norris or Esteban Ocon who could all learn valuable lessons from the seven-time World Champion.