F1 news 'climbing into my ears' - Bottas

Valtteri Bottas has admitted that his plan during the 2018 season summer break was to avoid everything F1, including news, as much as possible, but so many huge exclusives were announced that news was "literally climbing" into his ears in the month-long holiday.

The Mercedes driver spent the majority of his break in Finland, spending time with his family and even taking part in a duathlon event. In the month since the last Grand Prix, F1 has turned upside down with driver announcements, including Fernando Alonso jumping ship to the World Endurance Championship and Daniel Ricciardo sensationally leaving Red Bull for Renault.

It was Bottas' intention to avoid F1 news, but admits the high-profile announcements were, well, unavoidable.

"I was not going to follow the news but it's been literally climbing into my ears," said Bottas in jest.

"Daniel Ricciardo made a serious decision because he wants to completely change his environment and take on a new challenge.

"Fernando Alonso had a long and successful career in Formula 1, and at some point he realised that it was time to stop. And Carlos Sainz will take his place and perhaps that change will do him good,"

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Bottas would go on to comment on his own future, with speculation mounting that he could be asked by Mercedes to aid Lewis Hamilton's championship charge rather than his own.

According to the Finn, such team orders have not been issued yet.

"Actually, I'm determined to continue to fight for the championship as long as there is a theoretical chance. It will only change if the team decides it," he continued.

"Of course, Mercedes' interests are always above our own, so the decision will be made by the team, not by me."