Bottas gets vacant Merc seat

– Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas (right) will replace retired Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg at Mercedes this season, his Williams team announced yesterday.

Brazilian Felipe Massa, who retired at the end of last season, has agreed a one-year contract to take the seat vacated by Bottas.

“Williams is pleased to confirm that Felipe Massa has agreed to re-join Williams on a one-year deal, coming out of retirement to replace Valtteri Bottas who the team has released to join Mercedes for the 2017 season,” Williams announced.

London

There was no immediate word from Mercedes.

Bottas, 27, will partner Britain’s triple world champion Lewis Hamilton at dominant Mercedes, winners of the last three drivers and constructors’ titles and favourites again this year.

The Finn has yet to win a grand prix in four seasons at Williams, making nine podium appearances, but he can now expect to end that wait and step up as a genuine contender for the title.

Sauber earlier set the merry-go-round in motion by announcing that German driver Pascal Wehrlein, who was the Mercedes reserve and Bottas’ main rival to replace Rosberg, would race for them this year.

Wehrlein drove for struggling Manor as a rookie last year but Mercedes felt they needed a more experienced replacement. – Reuters