Mercedes will help Bottas keep F1 spot if Ocon replaces him

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff claims that the team will not make things “complicated” for Valtteri Bottas if they decide to leave him out of their driving line-up for 2020, saying they will aim to find him another team.

With Lewis Hamilton cruising in the world championship and with Max Verstappen threatening his second position, Bottas is under increasing pressure to secure his seat for next season, especially after his last two results in which he crashed out of the German GP and finished eighth in Hungary.

Speculation is mounting that he could be replaced by Esteban Ocon for 2020, and Wolff has assured they will ensure the Finn is taken care of if that does happen.

"We are responsible for both the juniors and those who drive our car now. We will not do anything that complicates their future career," the Mercedes team principal said.

"Whatever we decide, we will take into account the possibilities of a driver to go somewhere else. Whether that is for Esteban who want to make progress somewhere else or for Valtteri who can make a 'soft landing' somewhere."

Bottas, along with Hamilton and Verstappen, is one of only three drivers to have won a race this campaign, but is 62 points adrift of his team-mate in first position.

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