Last pieces of 2017 puzzle in place

Brazilian Felipe Massa, a former Ferrari driver who has raced for Williams for the past three years and whose retirement was announced last season, is now expected to return as Bottas’s replacement. “We have confidence in Valtteri’s ability and it’s one of the reasons that he is the driver we set our sights on this winter”. One thing is for sure: “as I know Valtteri, he will give it everything”, said Wolff.

Mercedes also stated that Felipe Massa will be coming out from his retirement to fill in the seat of Bottas in Williams.

One major question remains: will Massa have to return his farewell team gifts?

“It’s going to be a big challenge for me to be quicker than him”, added Bottas.

Valtteri Bottas has been confirmed as Lewis Hamilton’s new team-mate at Mercedes. “It’s definitely another dream come true, to race in another dream with such great history – especially in the recent years, which have been so impressive”, the 27-year-old said. The conversation was very amicable and we both enjoyed it. The squad will have 18-year-old rookie Lance Stroll making his debut with them this season, and had initially been reluctant to let go of Bottas.

Bottas’s racing career stretches back to the first time he stepped into a go-kart aged just six years old.

It’s also rumoured that Merc’s technical chief Paddy Lowe – who recently left the world championship team – will also join Williams.

“I’m ready to work hard, to prove myself to the team and to prove my skills”. That same year he took part in and won the Masters of Formula 3 event in Zandvoort, having qualified on pole and posted the fastest lap of the race. However, Bottas and Pascal Wehrlein, a Mercedes protégé who raced for backmarkers Manor past year, emerged as favourites for the drive.

Bottas had been a strong candidate to replace Rosberg together with Fernando Alonso and Pascal Wehrlein.