Mercedes sign Bottas to 'multi-year' deal

Mercedes have completed their driver line-up for the 2019 season after committing Valtteri Bottas to a "multi-year" deal. News of the Finn's new contract comes a day after Mercedes confirmed that Lewis Hamilton will remain with the team through to the end of the 2020 campaign.

As with Hamilton, Bottas had been widely expected to put pen to paper on a new deal, with Mercedes happy to snub a potential move for Daniel Ricciardo in order to keep last season's constructors' title-winning team in place.

Bottas took three grand prix victories in his first year with the Silver Arrows. Although he has not won a race so far in 2018, that can be put as much down to his poor luck than any errors behind the wheel.

A certain win in Baku was taken away when he suffered a late puncture, and he might have won in China too, if not for a poorly timed safety car.

Hamilton has long made clear that his preference would be to continue with Bottas, the pair enjoying a fairly frictionless relationship - a great contrast to Hamilton's previous relationship with Nico Rosberg.

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Bottas is initially contracted for the 2019 season, although Mercedes revealed that an option for 2020 has been installed into his contract - a show of faith to a driver who had previously only signed contracts one year at a time.

"It is great news that I will be racing for Mercedes in 2019," Bottas said. "And it is nice to announce it here in Hockenheim - not just the home race for Mercedes but also the circuit where I took my first ever single-seater wins back in 2007.

"This year, with a full winter of preparation, I have been able to make a good step forward - and I believe that there is still more to come.

"We have not been so lucky in the races this year but the team knows how I am performing, and this is a great sign of confidence in me and my driving.

"I enjoy working with the team, and also being team-mates with Lewis - we have a good relationship, honest and straightforward, and always aiming to get the right results for Mercedes.

"We have a big battle on our hands right now, so it's good to have the future clear for everybody - it means we can have a full focus on the championship fight.

"Obviously, my goal is to keep performing at a high level - and to make it a no-brainer for the team when it comes to deciding their plans for 2020 as well."