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So who's getting the merc seat this week? @jakey820 and I hashed out the potential contenders... just for a bit of fun 
@wtf1official
@wtf1official
Stoffel Vandoorne:
+ Merc reserve driver + has a super licence
+ Previous formula 1 experience, in previous evolution of the 2020 merc
+ Can get from Spain to Bahrain relatively easily depending on covid restrictions
- Formula E style driving, may struggle to re-adapt to F1
+ Merc reserve driver + has a super licence
+ Previous formula 1 experience, in previous evolution of the 2020 merc
+ Can get from Spain to Bahrain relatively easily depending on covid restrictions
- Formula E style driving, may struggle to re-adapt to F1
George Russell
+ Chance to prove himself a contender for merc seat in 2022
+ Merc junior driver
- Williams likely to refuse, this weekend is prime points opportunity: Fittipaldi in the Haas, could see end of season mechanical retirements
- Could sour relationship /w Williams?
+ Chance to prove himself a contender for merc seat in 2022
+ Merc junior driver
- Williams likely to refuse, this weekend is prime points opportunity: Fittipaldi in the Haas, could see end of season mechanical retirements
- Could sour relationship /w Williams?
Esteban Gutiérrez
+Merc reserve driver
- No super licence so unlikely to be allowed to drive this weekend
+Merc reserve driver
- No super licence so unlikely to be allowed to drive this weekend
Esteban Ocon
+ Merc junior driver, good F1 form + current F1 driver
- Renault extremely likely to refuse: position in constructors critical for them
- jepordise ocon's relationship /w renault?
+ BUT Renault COULD use weekend for Alonso testing..?
+ Merc junior driver, good F1 form + current F1 driver
- Renault extremely likely to refuse: position in constructors critical for them
- jepordise ocon's relationship /w renault?
+ BUT Renault COULD use weekend for Alonso testing..?
Marcus Ericsson
+ Only been away from F1 for ~2 years, good driver
+ Not tied to any particular F1 team, racing for indy car but season is finished (i think?)
- Unfamiliar with car, would be riskier than other candidates (eg. vandoorne)
+ Only been away from F1 for ~2 years, good driver
+ Not tied to any particular F1 team, racing for indy car but season is finished (i think?)
- Unfamiliar with car, would be riskier than other candidates (eg. vandoorne)
Nyck de Vries
+ Also current formula E driver with bags of F1 potential
? Not sure on his super licence status
+ Also current formula E driver with bags of F1 potential
? Not sure on his super licence status
Jenson Button
+ Honestly i'm just dreaming at this point, would be amazing to see what he could still do in the merc
- No superlicence
- Would have to interview himself post race for sky F1
+ Honestly i'm just dreaming at this point, would be amazing to see what he could still do in the merc
- No superlicence
- Would have to interview himself post race for sky F1
Nico HĂĽlkenberg
+ The king of jumping in a car last minute and performing well
+ Might even see him on the podium???????
- Strong relationship with racing point so potentially no dice at mercedes
- Doesn't know the merc car as well as other contenders (vandoorne)
+ The king of jumping in a car last minute and performing well
+ Might even see him on the podium???????
- Strong relationship with racing point so potentially no dice at mercedes
- Doesn't know the merc car as well as other contenders (vandoorne)
Robert Kubica
+ Seriously experienced F1 driver
- Reserve for Alfa so 99% wouldn't be made available to Merc
+ Seriously experienced F1 driver
- Reserve for Alfa so 99% wouldn't be made available to Merc
