Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff has responded in an Interview on a swipe of Helmut Marko. The Red Bull motor sport consultant, had recently criticized publicly, that "to date, no Mercedes-Junior ever came into the Cockpit" and against Wolff, brindled: "It's funny to hear that the Toto says, you look at the own offspring."

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At Mercedes for 2020 are Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas under the contract. In addition, there are agreements with the juniors Esteban Ocon (parked at Renault) and George Russell (Williams). Pascal Wehrlein, meanwhile, flew from the Mercedes squad - and the cockpit has managed so far not a Mercedes-Junior, since Wolff there, the rudder has taken over.

The Austrian Markos taunts but to bounce off of. In an Interview with RTL, he speaks, without Markos name, specifically, of the "September shores, there was in the last days and weeks, whether we have now used our Junior program is correct or not". And clarifies: "Our last six years to answer all the questions."

the rumors of a possible Mercedes team, with Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, remains Wolff vague: "We must remain true to our principles," he says. "Loyalty is something incredibly important part of our values. We are loyal to our current riders and also don't want to enter into negotiations at a time when the season is not even started." imago images/Hoch zwei, Sebastian Vettel in the Ferrari behind Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes - looks like it will be 2021?

Bottas seems to see the little looser. Given his end-of-year expiry of the Treaty and the uncertainty as to whether or not the Daimler group will make after 2020, even still a private team in the formula 1, he is almost forced, his options with other Teams to explore. And so he began now, apparently, concrete.

According to the information of Motorsport-Total.com these days, there has been a conversation between Bottas Manager Didier Coton (in the case of the Management company Aces a business partner of Wolff), and Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul. Renault is placed medially, with Fernando Alonso in touch, but would be ill-advised not to take other options into consideration.

Mercedes is one Bottas will get anyway, yet all too soon, a clear promise for 2021, even if he is allowed to stay in the end. Only when the season 2020 it is once started, "will you look across the border and say: What is there other options?", Wolff explains.

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"is already by 2020, in formula 1