GETTYValtteri Bottas will help Lewis Hamilton defend the World Constructors' Championship in 2017
VALTTERI BOTTAS will replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes and drive alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2017.
Rosberg announced his shock retirement at the end of last season just days after beatingLewis Hamilton to the F1 World Drivers’ Championship title.
Mercedes were initially keen to promote young driver Pascal Wehrlein but held reservations about his performances for Manor Racing in 2016 and he has now signed for Sauber.
A whole host of different names on the grid were mooted but with all the top drivers tied down to long-term contracts, the Brackley-based outfit were forced to explore other options.
Bottas was identified as a driver with the prerequisite experience, having spent four years racing for Williams.
Mercedes are understood to have had an initial bid worth more than £8million turned down while Williams were also keen to convince Felipe Massa to return from retirement before allowing Bottas to leave.
The team, who are supplied their power units by Mercedes, are instead thought to have held out for an offer near their entire engine bill, estimated at £14.2m.
Rosberg announced his shock retirement at the end of last season just days after beatingLewis Hamilton to the F1 World Drivers’ Championship title.
Mercedes were initially keen to promote young driver Pascal Wehrlein but held reservations about his performances for Manor Racing in 2016 and he has now signed for Sauber.
A whole host of different names on the grid were mooted but with all the top drivers tied down to long-term contracts, the Brackley-based outfit were forced to explore other options.
Bottas was identified as a driver with the prerequisite experience, having spent four years racing for Williams.
Mercedes are understood to have had an initial bid worth more than £8million turned down while Williams were also keen to convince Felipe Massa to return from retirement before allowing Bottas to leave.
The team, who are supplied their power units by Mercedes, are instead thought to have held out for an offer near their entire engine bill, estimated at £14.2m.
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