Mercedes boss Toto Wolff: This is why we didn't sign Fernando Alonso
FERNANDO ALONSO would have been Toto Wolff's choice to replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes but for his relationship with Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff did not want to reignite Lewis Hamilton's rivalry with Fernando Alonso
Mercedes boss Wolff was forced to scramble for a new team-mate for Lewis Hamilton when Rosberg retired just five days after winning the F1 World Drivers' Championship.
Valtteri Bottas eventually put pen to paper last month on a one-year deal after weeks of speculation.
Mercedes young driver programme member Pascal Wehrlein was the early favourite but he was dismissed by the team who are understood to have been concerned about his lack of experience after just one year driving for Manor.
But Wolff was quick to clarify that Bottas will be given just as much chance to race as Hamilton.
"I hope we have a car good enough to get race wins and the championship, but we will continue to give them equal opportunity," Hamilton added.