What next for Bottas and Russell after Hamilton's contract extension?

With the news that Lewis Hamilton will be driving for Mercedes for the next two seasons, it puts a lot more pressure on a number of other drivers on the Formula One grid. There have long been rumours that Valtteri Bottas and George Russell are the top candidates for a Mercedes seat and with the confirmation that Hamilton is going to get one of those seats, there is a lot more pressure on the other two drivers.

Mercedes will not prefer a partnership like Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. That is why Hamilton has already indicated that he would like to see Bottas sign-on, because after all with the Finn they won four world titles and Hamilton could also write four titles, but other talent is lurking.

Mercedes knows what Russell can do

Russell is driving his third full F1 season this season and seems to be growing out of the Williams seat. The Brit has driven many races in the meantime and although he has never driven in the points for Williams, he has shown his talent on several occasions. When he had to replace Hamilton at the Sakhir Grand Prix weekend, he was on a par with Bottas.

In fact, with an overtaking move on the Finn during the race, Russell showed that he has the capabilities to drive at speed with Mercedes. What will be important is whether Mercedes wins the constructors' title this year. If Bottas fails to score enough points as the second driver then this year could be his last.

Difficult choice for Mercedes management

The choice of Mercedes will depend on several factors and for Russell it will be a matter of waiting and seeing. The young Briton has already shown what he is capable of and has indicated on several occasions that he is ready to make the switch. For Toto Wolff and the Mercedes management a difficult choice to make and one they cannot wait too long with.

Bottas, unlike Russell, will have more influence on that decision. He now drives that car and will have to show what he is capable of in the coming races. He has finished third a number of times this season, but Sergio Perez has shown he is increasingly in control when it comes to third place. In France he overtook Bottas in the closing stages and in Styria he fell a lap short. Bottas will have to show that he can consistently score podiums for the team if he wants to stay with Mercedes next year.