Breaking news
Formula 1
Bottas: Mercedes F1 contract talks “moving in right direction”
Valtteri Bottas says talks with Mercedes over a new Formula 1 contract are “moving in the right direction” as he closes in on extending his stay with the team into 2021.
Luke Smith
Edited: Jul 17, 2020, 8:04 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Sources indicated to Motorsport.com this week that Bottas is set to remain with Mercedes beyond the end of the year after agreeing a new deal in principle. A further indication that Bottas will remain with Mercedes arrived on Thursday when Williams confirmed that George Russell would be remaining with the team next year.
Russell is a Mercedes junior driver, and had been tipped as the only realistic candidate to replace Bottas, but will spend a third year with Williams in 2021.
When asked by Motorsport.com on how talks with Mercedes were progressing, Bottas said that while nothing had been signed, they were developing positively.
“I can say that we have started talking about it, because I think we all realised that time actually goes quick with these triple-headers, and [it’s a] pretty intense schedule for all of us,” said Bottas. “But obviously nothing is signed yet, but I think things are moving in the right direction.
“The main thing as I said last weekend is to keep focused on the championship. There’s big things to be achieved this year, so keep the focus on that, and I’m sure things will move on eventually. Of course, from the driver’s side, if things drag on, it’s not nice. But we’ve only done two races, so it’s OK. There’s no big panic or rush.”
Read Also:
- Hungarian GP: F1 technical developments direct from the track
- Hamilton expects a "lot closer" Hungarian GP qualifying
Current drivers’ championship leader Bottas said in pre-season that he wanted a deal to be sorted sooner than last year, when talks dragged on until August and became a distraction in his title bid.
Bottas joined Mercedes in 2017 as a late replacement for world champion Nico Rosberg, and has formed a strong partnership with Lewis Hamilton at the team over the past four seasons, contributing to three constructors’ title wins.
Hamilton spoke warmly of Bottas’ growth when asked if he saw any difference in his teammate this year: “Every year I see Valtteri continue to grow as a racing driver, but also as a team player, and as a man. Naturally you’re going to see growth. He discovers as we all do the strengths and weaknesses through the year, we analyse it, and we work on it moving forwards.
“I think you’re seeing a fitter, more focused driver this year, and I think that’s great. I continue to enjoy working with him, and with the respect that we have continues to grow I would say.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article FIA looking at new F1 tests to stop flexi-wing trickery
Next article Allison: Ferrari’s F1 heritage prompts short-term mindset
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Luke Smith
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
Formula 1
Formula 1
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Formula 1
Formula 1
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Formula 1
Formula 1
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
More from
Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac’s F1 brakes are still a problem: ‘I had to lift and coast on lap two’
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Cadillac’s F1 brakes are still a problem: ‘I had to lift and coast on lap two’
Valtteri Bottas completes three-day jungle ride to Singapore GP: "Your mind starts to play games at night"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Valtteri Bottas completes three-day jungle ride to Singapore GP: "Your mind starts to play games at night"
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
Formula 1
Canadian GP
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
More from
Mercedes
Mercedes: “We had people who hadn’t done a live pitstop for 15 years” in Singapore GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
13 h
Mercedes: “We had people who hadn’t done a live pitstop for 15 years” in Singapore GP
Christian Horner: Kimi Antonelli has 'earned' the right to be Mercedes' number one
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
17 h
Christian Horner: Kimi Antonelli has 'earned' the right to be Mercedes' number one
Latest news
Zane Smith fined $50,000 by NASCAR for ramming Carson Hocevar after Phoenix Cup race
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
6 h
Zane Smith fined $50,000 by NASCAR for ramming Carson Hocevar after Phoenix Cup race
FIA expects F1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to continue as planned
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
11 h
FIA expects F1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to continue as planned
TDS Racing doubles down on IMSA program with two-car LMP2 return
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 11 h
TDS Racing doubles down on IMSA program with two-car LMP2 return
Why Isack Hadjar doesn’t like F1 sprints anymore
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
11 h
Why Isack Hadjar doesn’t like F1 sprints anymore
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe