'Mercedes have decided between Bottas and Ocon'

Mercedes will keep Valtteri Bottas in its 2020 driver line-up, according to AutoBild, the Finn retaining his position alongside Lewis Hamilton for a fourth season in succession, with Esteban Ocon set to join Renault.

Bottas has helped Mercedes to two constructors' championships since replacing Nico Rosberg, with a third on the cards in 2019, although his inability to push Hamilton as Rosberg did had led to suggestions that the Silver Arrows may look elsewhere.

With Ocon waiting in reserve, and team boss Toto Wolff eager to see the Frenchman return to the F1 grid after a year off, Bottas' ill-timed failures in Germany and Hungary had piled the pressure on.

However, reports in Germany claim that Bottas will retain the faith of his bosses for another year, despite trailing Hamilton by 62 points at the summer break.

Ocon had been due to sign for Renault this time a year ago, but the French marque's blockbuster move for Daniel Ricciardo saw Cyril Abiteboul renege on a "gentleman's agreement" with Wolff.

The Mercedes chief had suggested he would hesitate to send Ocon to Renault again, however it is claimed that the former Manor and Force India racer will perform for his native squad after all.

Wolff confirmed that Hamilton would be consulted over the identity of his new team-mate, and the harmony that Bottas has brought to the Silver Arrows after the Brit's quarrelsome years alongside Rosberg may have played into the Finn's favour, if he is confirmed yet again.

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