Bottas Mercedes 2020, Ocon to Renault

Silly season has reached its heights just before the return from the F1 summer break. Yesterday, it was revealed that Valterri Bottas was staying at Mercedes for the 2020 Formula One season.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff commented this after Bottas’ extension was announced:

“For 2019, we set Valtteri the challenge of coming back even stronger than we saw him in the first part of 2018 – and he has achieved that, with some really impressive performances in the early races this year.

“Although it has been his most successful first half of a championship so far, he is hungry for more and determined to keep on improving and raising his level. That’s the mindset we want from all our team members.

“The results we have achieved together with Valtteri are no coincidence: he has been an integral part of our championship success in the past two seasons, his teamwork with Lewis has been exemplary and he has shown real strength of character in how he has responded to setbacks.

“I’m delighted that he will stay with the team for another season at least – and look forward to seeing him raise the bar even further.”

This news left fans questioning the future of Esteban Ocon, as it has been anticipated that he would return to F1 for the next season. A few hours after, Renault and Ocon announced he would join them for 2020 in place of Nico Hulkenberg.

Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal for Renault F1 Team, had this to say on Ocon joining the team:
“We are very happy to work with Esteban for the next two seasons. Over his F1 career ,Esteban has experienced the highs and lows of the sport, and fully understood the need to seize every possible chance. In addition to lending his natural talent, Esteban’s aim will be to focus his natural energy and drive, both of which have been intensified by a year away from racing. It is then up to us to infuse them into the next phase of the team’s progress.

“He has shown his ability to score points, has great professionalism on and off the track, plus his recent experience as reserve driver to the current world champions will be a valuable asset to the development of our entire team.

“I wish to thank Nico for his phenomenal involvement and massive contribution to our progress over the past three seasons. When Nico decided to join us, the team was ninth. He brought us to fourth place last year, and was classified seventh in the drivers’ championship. The imminent end of his contract made this decision a difficult one as Nico has been a pillar of this progress. The first part of this season has been more challenging, but I know we can count on him and deliver together throughout the second half of the year.”

This announcement leaves Nico Hulkenberg without a drive. In my opinion, as much as I am very happy to see a driver as talented as Ocon return to the sport, I am very disappointed that Hulkenberg has had to step aside. He has proven that he has deserved the recognition he has received throughout his career by driving alongside (and matching) multiple race winner, Daniel Ricciardo. This news leaves me, alongside many others I suspect, questioning whether Hulkenberg will get a drive next season and if so where.

What do you think about these announcements? Do you think Hulkenberg will get a drive somewhere, and if so where?