[ad_1]
Although the Finnish rider has made good progress this year, especially with his qualifications, he has not always been able to translate these possibilities into winning races.
This left Mercedes the inevitable choice to keep it or to call on the services of his reserve driver, Esteban Okon. Max Verstauben is also in the background as a candidate for the situation. According to him, the Dutch future with Red Bull is still not resolved.
Although the transfer of Verstahnaben to Mercedes is still obsolete, it will depend on the activation of the clauses of disengagement from its contract with the Austrian brand during the summer holidays. The choice is probably between Botas and O & # 39; Connor.
Read also:
Speaking on the sidelines of the German Grand Prix this weekend, Wolff said that one of the key factors evaluated was to make sure that the team's decision was the good for the future of the German brand in the long run, rather than just focus on the 2020 season.
"We want him to finish the season in a good position, that he is performing well in Hockenheim and Budapest, and that he thinks at length about the composition of our drivers for the 2020 season and beyond." "said Wolf.
"It is unusual to announce the pilots in July, because if you want to take the time, you will have to evaluate the situation correctly and maybe even wait for the winter break, as we have seen with other teams and that we have been used to and used to in the past. "He said.
"It's not only about making the right decision next year, but also about looking ahead, which is why we agreed to make our decision in August, but it does not necessarily mean that we will announce our decision this month. "
Read also:
Wolff said other teams would be interested in OCon next year if Mercedes had not made his choice, but that could mean the loss of the German mark for a few years.
"As we all know, Esteban was in a bad situation last year, he had a choice between two seats, but he had nothing at all," Wolf said.
"From our point of view, we see that everyone knows his abilities as a driver," he said, adding: "Valteri is performing very well and deserves his place in the team. but Esteban has already shown it in the past and is a great badet to the team. "
"Esteban contributes a lot behind closed doors, driving on the simulator all night at the end of the race week, coming here on Saturday to give us data, it's a big boy, and put a Mercedes in the car On the other hand, the other teams are interested in it, we have to be careful to make our decision and to do the same with the other stakeholders, not only for ourselves, but also for Esteban. "
"If we make a decision in favor of Valteri, it will be clear that this means that another team will continue to develop Esteban and that we will lose the ability to control its future for a year or two or more," he said. -he declares.
Esteban Okon, Mercedes
Photography: Photo Lat
Source link
