Mercedes delays driver announcement to next year

Mercedes has announced that the team will not make any announcements regarding Nico Rosberg’s replacement until after the New Year.

Since the 2016 Formula One world champion broke the news of his surprise departure from the sport, Lewis Hamilton has been without a team-mate for the 2017 season.

• Under the skin of the Williams FW38

Many candidates have been tipped to partner the Briton, including world champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, both of whom have already ruled themselves out; Mercedes protégé Pascal Wehrlein, Toro Rosso ace Carlos Sainz; and Williams’ Valtteri Bottas, who has emerged as the front runner in recent days.

“There will be no announcements from us until next year and nothing is planned for the period between now and our return to work on 3rd January,” a Mercedes representative told F1i’s Chris Medland.

Williams has declined to comment the Bottas reports so far, while Christian Horner firmly dismissed the Sainz rumours.

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