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• Mercedes ready to resign Hamilton and Bottas.
• Vettel out of the running for 2021 seat at Mercedes.
• George Russell looks to remain with Williams next year.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
Mercedes' current drivers appear to be making moves to ink new deals for 2021.
Last weekend in Austria, Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius nixed speculation Sebastian Vettel might join the works team by declaring: "We're staying with our two boys."
One of those boys is Valtteri Bottas, who earlier also looked at risk of being ousted in favour of George Russell.
But it now appears that Russell is tied to Williams for 2021.
Russell said in Austria: "I do have a contract for next year with Williams, so you know ultimately it's potentially in Claire's hands of where my future lies."
Certain future
That is good news for 2020 championship leader Bottas, who admitted that last year's uncertainty about his future affected his performance.
When asked if he might sign an earlier deal this time around, the Finn said in Austria: "I really hope so, although the season is unusual this time so it can't be compared to before. I do hope that we will soon be able to close the topic of the contract and not think about it anymore."
As for world champion Lewis Hamilton, his best option for 2021 is clearly Mercedes and so he is now openly contemplating a new contract.
He told the German broadcaster RTL: "It is very possible that this will be my last contract with them (Mercedes). If it is, I want to be sure that I have thought about everything very thoroughly."
