Bottas Settled Mercedes-Vettel Rumours For His Own Self

Valtteri Bottas confirms Mercedes' disinterest in Sebastian Vettel for F1 2021
Why did Valtteri Bottas confirm Mercedes’ disinterest in Sebastian Vettel for 2021? Will Bernie Ecclestone keep a finder’s fee if he finds an investor / buyer for Williams? Renault already switching focus to the 2026 Formula 1 season? F1’s marketing masterstroke with Mugello & circuits overthinking ideas to fill empty stands with ‘fake fans’.

Valtteri Bottas – what have you just done? By confirming Mercedes’ lack of interest in Sebastian Vettel, you’ve literally just blown F1’s best off-season talking point to pieces. Thanks, but no thanks for the anti-climax to the Vettel-Mercedes saga. We understand that you needed the clarity, but maybe the fans didn’t? Carey & co. will have to find another big ticket story to keep fans engaged in this long off-season. But honestly, were you one of those who really believed that Mercedes would field a Vettel-Hamilton pairing in 2021?

F1 2020: Will There Be No Street Races?

Also in this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, we talk about Formula 1’s masterstroke of a marketing idea to host Ferrari’s 1000th Grand Prix at their home circuit in Mugello. Sorry MotoGP, but Formula 1 is first love. Should circuits waste money trying to fill up the empty stands? We tell you why Silverstone’s ‘cardboard fan’ idea might not be a smart one. Will Formula 1 fly ALL reserve drivers to the races in 2020? And finally, Renault are already switching focus to the 2026 Formula 1 season. Yes, you read that right. Oh, and before you go – Bernie Ecclestone is helping Williams find a buyer / investor. Do you think he’ll keep a finder’s fee? Tune in!

(Season 2020, Episode 22)

ANNOUNCEMENT: We’ve launced a video channel – Pits To Podium. Check it out!

Here’s what’s in store for you in this episode:

0:00-3:00 – Valtteri Bottas plays party pooper to the Vettel-Mercedes saga. He needed to know, we didn’t!

3:00-6:00 – Mika Hakkinen’s immense belief in Valtteri Bottas to be a Formula 1 World Champion. Will 2020 be his last chance, if at all? (Read: Mika Hakkinen On The Inside Line F1 Podcast)

6:00-9:00 – Formula 1 is managing two calendar in parallel – the original and the revised 2020 calendar. Also we don’t foresee a single street race in 2020, do you?

9:00-12:00 – Well done to Mugello for choosing Formula 1 over MotoGP! It’s a great marketing idea to celebrate Ferrari’s 1000th Grand Prix start at home. Mugello’s choice of series a bit of an embarrassment for MotoGP though?

12:00-15:00 – We could start the 2020 Formula 1 season without knowing if more races would be added along the way and what race could be the last one of the season! Exciting! (Read: Terms For F1 2021: Glidepath & Sliding Scale)

15:00-18:00 – Could Silverstone’s ‘cardboard fan’ be a safety hazard for Formula 1? We don’t mind absolutely empty stands in the circuits, do you?

18:00-21:00 – Will Formula 1 fly all reserve drivers to every race of 2020? Will the reserve drivers be more ‘rusty’ than the regulars?

21:00-24:00 – Who paid for Lando Norris’ personal F3 test last week? Renault being petty with Mclaren?

24:00-end – Renault switching focus to the 2026 Formula 1 season already? What engine formula would Formula 1 use then? We tell you why it isn’t too early to talk about 2026 already

Kunal Shah is an FIA-accredited Formula 1 journalist who has been reporting on Formula 1 for nearly two decades. He worked with the Force India Formula 1 Team for 6 seasons in Marketing, Sponsorship and Commercial roles. As a former single-seater racer, he was responsible for Force India's grassroots talent program, One from a Billion Hunt. Presently, he co-writes a regular Formula 1 column for Firstpost, speaks on Inside Line F1 Podcast & Pits to Podium and produces broadcast/OTT content for NENT Group (Viasport & Viaplay).

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Hello,
Happy to share my passion for Formula 1 with you. If you have specific queries about the sport, feel free to ping me.

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Regards,
Kunal