Who will be second driver Mercedes? "Will it be Bottas? I'm not sure"

The rumours surrounding the second seat next year at Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton are keeping a lot of minds busy. With Valtteri Bottas, George Russell and Toto Wolf unwilling to say much about it, analysts at SkySports analysts are speculating.

For Chandhok, it's pretty clear who will sit next to Hamilton next year. "I think it will be Russell. They are looking at the long term. Hamilton signed a two-year contract, they have to look beyond that. He's turning 38, this could be his last contract. I think they are looking at who will be their number one driver in two years time. Will it be Bottas? I'm not sure. Could be Russell. Yeah. He can spend two years as Lewis' replacement learning the ropes."

Does Croft share Chandhok's view?

Sky Sports lead commentator David Croft also picks Russell. 

"No, I'm not going for Bottas. Only time will tell whether it is the right decision. That's not what Wolff has. He can't look into the future and see what happens in two years. I think it's going to be Russell, but the debate is whether that's the right choice. For all the talk, there are pros and cons on both sides of the debate. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. Just a decision that needs to be made, or maybe has already been made."

The decision is likely to be made in September, during or after the triple-header that F1 has now started. Until then, speculation continues.