Mercedes has plenty of choice for 2022: 'Keeping an eye on other young guys'

In the week prior to the Spanish Grand Prix there were rumours about a possible early departure of Valtteri Bottas. The Finn dismissed those rumours as nonsense, but his seat for 2022 is far from certain. Toto Wolff discusses the possible options.

Bottas has been a Mercedes driver since 2017. The Finn came to the German team as the replacement for the suddenly departed Nico Rosberg and has filled that role very well since. Bottas sometimes picks up a pole or victory and ensures that the team can win the constructors' title. So it's not surprising that Wolff has expressed his confidence in him.

''We will evaluate both choices. Valtteri is one of our drivers and I will always be loyal to our drivers, but we all have an obligation to evaluate the future, to have long-term plans and in this regard, we must consider all the possible options for both cars,'' Wolff said in an interview with Motorsport.it.

''And since we have two Mercedes juniors, Esteban (Ocon) and George, we have to evaluate everything. I would add that we are also keeping an eye on other young guys who are emerging but having said that, today there are only two drivers driving a Mercedes and they are Valtteri and Lewis,'' Wolff concludes.