Mercedes says it will handle Valtteri Bottas’ future in a “better way” next year, with the Finn conceding that mid-season speculation became “a pain in the ass”. Bottas joined Mercedes in 2017 and has been on one-year extensions ever since, and Mercedes’ 2020 seat became a primary talking point prior to the summer break. Mercedes publicly revealed that it was weighing up whether to retain Bottas or promote reserve driver and long-term protégé Esteban Ocon to partner Lewis Hamilton. Bottas was ultimately given the nod during the summer break, with Ocon joining Renault for 2020, but in the two events prior to the decision being made his form...
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