Nico Rosberg expects Vettel and Alonso to figure in Mercedes' deliberations on their driver line-up for 2018
Tuesday 14 February 2017 10:38, UK
Mercedes should consider Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso when deciding on their 2018 driver line-up later this year, according to retried world champion Nico Rosberg.
Rosberg's shock retirement at the end of last year has opened the door for Valtteri Bottas to join Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes with the Finn now having the chance to cement his long-term future at the front of the grid.
But with two of the sport's most successful names currently out of contract at the end of 2017, Rosberg expects Mercedes and the drivers concerned to consider their options.
Clarifying quotes attributed to him in the Italian press, Rosberg said: "What I said was is that it would definitely make sense for Sebastian to have a look at that Mercedes seat for 2018 and for Mercedes to have a look at him and consider him for 2018
"That's obvious. He's one of the best drivers out there and he doesn't have a contract for 2018, so they should explore the possibility. Who knows? Let's see what happens, but it could be a good fit."
Rosberg's decision to walk away from a new two-year contract means a Mercedes driver line-up which had been locked down until the end of 2018 could yet change twice in as many seasons.
VOTE: What is 2017's best driver line-up?
Although Bottas has been signed for 2017 and Mercedes are confident he will deliver, Toto Wolff said the world champions have deliberately kept their "options open" so they can be best placed to assess the driver market again heading into next year. Hamilton's deal runs to the end of 2018.
Asked if Alonso, who is out of contract with McLaren at the end of the year, could also make sense for Mercedes too, Rosberg added: "Even though he's not the youngest out there anymore he's still driving at his best from what we've seen and he should be considered as well. I'm sure they will."
Rosberg was speaking at a media event ahead of Tuesday's Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco, where he is nominated in the Breakthrough of the Year category.
Now a Mercedes ambassador rather than driver, the German has wished his replacement at F1's world champions well and said Bottas has asked to speak to him in the forthcoming weeks.
"He's asked me if we can have a chat and I'm happy to do that," Rosberg added.
"But I will stay very neutral, so I won't be giving any Lewis secrets away, for example."
