Valtteri Bottas uncertain of F1 future as Mercedes question marks continue

Bottas, Mercedes, Azerbaijan — Photo: © LAT Images

Valtteri Bottas

Bottas uncertain of F1 future as Mercedes question marks continue

Bottas is out of contract at the end of the season

Ian Parkes

Monday 14 June 2021 15:44

Valtteri Bottas is adamant he still has "a few good years" inside him and that his time in F1 is far from over.

Following a disastrous start to the new season, Bottas' hopes of landing the F1 tittle he has long dreamed of already appear to be over this season.

After failing to net a point in two consecutive races for the first time since he joined Mercedes in 2017, and with three no-scores in six grands prix overall, Bottas has fallen 58 points behind championship leader Max Verstappen in his Red Bull.

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Question marks are naturally being raised as to whether the Finn will still be with the team next season.

Asked for his thoughts on his future and whether he was having as much fun now as when he first joined the team given the scrutiny he is under, Bottas replied: "My future, what are my thoughts? I am quite open-minded.

"Like in life in general, you always need to take opportunities and you just never know what is around the corner. That is also having clear goals, what you are pushing for, it has taken me this far. I always want to follow my heart and follow my passion.

"I am still enjoying F1 very much, racing at the front and I really love it as much as I did, for example, in my first year at Mercedes, no doubt.

"If I look at the big picture, I still have a good few years in me. I feel year by year I keep improving in certain areas and keep getting better.

"I am quite far from being one of the oldest drivers on the grid so in theory I still have time, you just don't know what the future holds. I will really try to take it weekend by weekend and see what comes."

Talks yet to start with Mercedes

Earlier this year Bottas stated that if a new deal was forthcoming from Mercedes then he would hope to have concluded negotiations by the start of the summer break from early August for peace of mind.

With F1's hiatus just seven weeks away, the 31-year-old has revealed nothing has started yet, and with nothing likely to over the next three weeks given the looming triple-header.

"We haven't yet spoken anything because it is a pretty demanding championship and we know how much it matters to have working ease, let's say, so we can really focus on the main thing which is performance," added Bottas.

"That time will come. It has not been yet but time flies and going into triple headers etcetera, you have limited time.

"Naturally, in the next month or so, we will start to speak. I know from previous experience the sooner you can sort out things it is better for everyone, so it will come soon but not yet."