Valtteri Bottas

Bottas on Mercedes contract talks: Same all year

Would you sign him up?

Matthew Scott

Saturday 8 June 2019 16:03

Valtteri Bottas says he has had no talks with Mercedes over extending his contract, despite an excellent start to the 2019 season. Although Bottas' deal only runs to the end of the year, Mercedes also hold an option for the 2020 campaign.

This season had been billed as make or break for the Finn, following on from a winless 2018 and with Esteban Ocon returning to the Silver Arrows' fold as reserve driver.

However, Bottas has responded in fine fashion, taking two race wins and three pole positions to push Lewis Hamilton close.

Any hopes that it could speed up Mercedes into extending his deal have been dashed.

"There's still nothing to talk about with the team or anyone else," Bottas told C More.

"We are at the same stage as we were when the season started. There is no word mentioned about next year. It's the situation right now."

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described Bottas' performances so far in 2019 as "unbelievable" but stopped short of confirming whether they were already enough to secure his future.

"There's no news on that," he said.

Article continues under video

"Valtteri has been driving very well and it has been quite unbelievable to see how he has improved his performances since last year.

"It's important now that he keeps his current level so that we can start discussing the future."

Bottas' team-mate Hamilton signed a deal last year which incorporates the 2019 and 2020 seasons.