Bottas would seek rival move if dropped by Mercedes

Valtteri Bottas hinted he would have no qualms at joining one of Mercedes' rivals if he is not retained beyond the 2019 season.

Bottas is contracted until the end of the current campaign, while Mercedes hold another year as an option in the deal signed last season, in which the Finn failed to win a race.

Although he has two victories to his name this season, and more pole positions than any driver on the grid, uncertainty continues to surround his future, with Esteban Ocon waiting in the wins and hoping to return to the grid in 2020.

Bottas trails Lewis Hamilton by 39 points in the drivers' championship, having lost out to his team-mate in the British Grand Prix, but believes he has done enough to secure his future with the Silver Arrows.

"If it wasn't for Lewis, perhaps I would have won more races," Bottas told Canal Plus.

"But to be honest, I wouldn't change anything, because the situation helps me to progress and achieve more. I want to challenge him.

"I would like to extend the contract for next season.

"I think I've proved to the team that I deserve to stay at Mercedes. But we will have to wait a few more races.

"Nothing has been signed yet, but I am trying to keep making progress so that everything should be fine."

If Bottas cannot convince Mercedes to keep him, he says he wants to remain at the sharp end of the grid.

"If I have to leave Mercedes, then I would like to be at the team that is in second place," he said.

When put to him that would mean a move to Ferrari, the Finn replied with a smile: "At the moment that is Ferrari, yes."

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