SM
Newcastle vs. Arsenal: 2 hrs 54 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Bottas told of Mercedes exit 'long ago' - Doornbos

:Headline: Bottas told of Mercedes exit 'long ago' - Doornbos:
Two former F1 drivers think Valtteri Bottas is definitely leaving Mercedes.
Sports Mole

Two former F1 drivers think Valtteri Bottas is definitely leaving Mercedes.

Toto Wolff tried to downplay the Finn's expletive-filled radio rant in the French GP as a "great" thing because he is "finally letting something out".

But according to Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos, something doesn't add up.

"Why didn't he (Bottas) say it earlier?" he told Ziggo Sport.

"He should have told his team halfway through the race, not after it was too late. It seems like he just doesn't have a position in the team to get things done."

Doornbos said something else was "strange" about Bottas at Paul Ricard.

"Why didn't he want to go for the fastest lap at the end by making a pitstop?" wondered the Dutchman.

"It's a strange move if you ask me. In my view, he was told long ago that he won't be there next year. Maybe that's why we're seeing these communication problems.

"It doesn't seem like there's a good vibe in the team at the moment," Doornbos said.

Another former driver, Ralf Schumacher, thinks that while Bottas had some good pace over the weekend in France, the 31-year-old's performance overall is "just not good enough".

"It's a new situation for Mercedes because they haven't had any real opponents from outside the team in recent years," he told Sky Deutschland.

"In that context, every mistake is a big problem.

"We saw how important Perez was in making Verstappen's strategy work. Bottas wasn't quite there in the same way."

However, Schumacher isn't sure the situation is dire enough for Mercedes to consider ousting Bottas before the end of the season.

"If Bottas' performance is like it was last weekend or in Monaco, then I don't see a driver change this season," said the German.

"But should Bottas fall away even more, it would definitely be worth considering.

"Personally, I wouldn't have dared to be so critical on the radio after performing like he has this season, but there's probably a reason.

"He probably knows he's gone anyway and is trying to recommend himself to another team. I can't explain it in any other way," added Schumacher.

body check tags ::

amp_article__452295 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-22 07:52:53:
html db last update - 2021-06-22 07:52:53 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Valtteri Bottas

Click here for more stories about Mercedes

Share this article now:
VB
Read Next:
Wolff says Bottas' radio outburst 'great'
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Valtteri Bottas Robert Doornbos Ralf Schumacher Paul Ricard Toto Wolff Formula 1
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Wolff says Bottas' radio outburst 'great'
Real Madrid 'planning blockbuster move' for £109m-rated German superstar
Not in Amorim's plans: Man United 'ready to axe four players' next year
Horner says dropping Perez after Brazil 'unlikely'

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City97202091123
2Liverpool97111751222
3Arsenal95311710718
4Aston Villa95311611518
5Chelsea95221911817
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton94411612416
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest9441117416
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs94141810813
9Brentford94141818013
10Fulham93331212012
11Bournemouth93331111012
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle9333910-112
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham93241316-311
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd9324811-311
15Leicester CityLeicester92341317-49
16Everton92341016-69
17Crystal Palace9135611-56
18Ipswich TownIpswich9045920-114
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves90271225-132
20Southampton9018619-131
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Saturday's Premier League predictions including Newcastle vs. Arsenal

1

SP

Preview: Man Utd vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PM

Team to drop Visa Cash App RB name for 2025 season

NEW

3

TT

Real Madrid 'planning blockbuster move' for £109m-rated German superstar

NEW

4

RM

Hojlund or Zirkzee? Will Eriksen play? Man United predicted XI against Chelsea

5

HO

Why Sterling could be Arsenal's secret weapon in Newcastle clash

6

WS

Preview: Barcelona vs. Espanyol - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PB

Amorim reveals Man United rejected request to delay move

8

AR

Preview: Le Havre vs. Montpellier - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PL

Will Van de Ven, Son be available? Spurs predicted XI against Villa

10

WV


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .