Jacques Villeneuve Makes Bottas Prediction for 2019

Jacques Villeneuve thinks Valtteri Bottas’ days at Mercedes could be numbered.

Ross Brawn, the F1 sporting boss, thinks the Finnish driver’s performance was the champion team’s only significant weakness in 2018.

Some have suggested Bottas could benefit from the advice of Nico Rosberg, the former Mercedes driver who overcame defeat to beat Lewis Hamilton to the title two years ago.

However, the Finn believes that he knows best. “No, I don’t need his advice,” Germany’s formula1.de quotes Bottas as saying. “I need to find my own way both as a driver and a man.”

Speed Week quotes Bottas as saying that he will drive “as though I have nothing to lose” in 2019.

But Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, thinks Bottas could actually lose his seat.

He said the season finale in Abu Dhabi recently was even “embarrassing” for the 29-year-old.

“I think there is a possibility that Bottas will be replaced by Esteban Ocon during the 2019 season,” Villeneuve was quoted by Sky Italia.

Bottas had a poor season in 2018 and was even forced to give way to Hamilton a couple of times. He had a great chance to bag his maiden win of the season in Baku but was done over by a pesky puncture. The Finn ultimately succumbed to a retirement from a really strong position.

In Russia, the team clearly stated that he should move aside  and he was forced to comply. The team apologised profusely but the damage was done to his psyche. In the end, he did not win a single race at all until the season finale. Even then, he could only muster 5th place behind his teammate, Vettel and the two Red Bulls. Many have criticised his performance and believe that Ocon could very well be primed for a Mercedes seat.