WHO’S KNOCKING AT WOLFF’S DOOR?

There is a rap on the door during our interview with the Mercedes head honcho, and a short pause while a driver peers into the room. Toto then asks: “How long are you staying?” Metaphorically, Valtteri Bottas would like to know that answer from Toto. In the summer he was given a contract extension for one more season (with an option for another), while Hamilton’s deal is confirmed until the end of 2020. A few days after our interview, Esteban Ocon was in the Abu Dhabi paddock, wearing a crisp white Mercedes t-shirt, in his new role as test and reserve driver. After a season where he out-qualified his Force India team-mate Sergio Perez (but fell 13 points short of him in the standings), events conspired against Ocon and he heads into 2019 without a race seat. Lawrence Stroll’s takeover of Force India led to his departure, while links to other teams were compromised by his on-going relationship with Mercedes. But while Wolff, a long-time Ocon supporter, could not find his charge a seat, he has brought him into the Mercedes fold, where he can learn what it takes to reach the next level in F1. Ocon’s presence in and around the garage next year will continue to put pressure on Bottas as Wolff considers who will partner Lewis Hamilton for ‘20. “Esteban proved again that he deserves a seat, against Sergio [Perez] he had a very strong team-mate,” says Wolff. “They were racing each other hard with the advantage on Esteban’s side of qualifying. I’ve no doubt he’ll be in F1, but whether with us or another team remains to be seen.” In contrast, it was a disappointing campaign for Bottas, who recorded no wins in the championship-winning car (compared to Hamilton’s 11) even though he started brightly. “There was bad luck in Bahrain, China and especially Baku [where he was leading before a puncture cost him the win]. If Valtteri had finished that race he would have been in the lead of the championship and that would have changed the dynamic – and his momentum,” says Wolff. “If you take away a driver’s sole goal, to win a championship, it’s clear that mentally it becomes very difficult. I’m still angry about the whole Baku incident because it was so unnecessary – Magnussen and Gasly driving into each other on the straight and costing Valtteri the win.” Bottas was annoyed after Hungary when he was dubbed a “wingman”, but to avoid such labels he has to regularly beat Hamilton. And it’s not just Ocon waiting in the wings. F2 champion George Russell is also backed by Mercedes and has been given a chance to prove himself in 2019 with Williams, and you can bet that more drivers will soon be rapping gently on Toto’s door asking for a chance to prove themselves.