Valtteri Bottas poised to replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes

Mercedes are expected to start the new year with a big announcement imminent about who is going to replace retired world champion Nico Rosberg alongside Lewis Hamilton.

The team made clear before the Christmas break that they would have nothing to say before the full return to work today. There is evidence, however, to suggest the decision is all but made.

According to the motorsport.com website, Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas was at the Mercedes factory at Brackley before Christmas to meet team engineers and try out the cockpit of the 2017 car.