The Mercedes team on Wednesday formalised the one-year extension contract to Valtteri Bottas, which will remain with the British Lewis Hamilton during the 2018 season.
“Overall, the solidity of his solidity of his performance and it upward trajectory made it a good thing to continue him next season,” Mercedes big boss Toto Wolff said to media.
This fresh contract was expected in recent weeks. This season, the Finn has won two victoties as Russi Grand Prix and Austria Grand Prix and head’s into Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix third in the Formula One standings, just 41 points behind the championship leader Lewis Hamilton.
“I am honoured and proud to continue to work with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motosport in 2018 and to remain part of the Mercedes family,” Bottas said. “Together we continue to grow stronger day by day, and by keeping up our hard work I believe the sky is the limit.”
“Since joining the team in January, I’ve enjoyed every day working with them. The welcome and the support from every team member and all the fans has been invaluable.” he added.
Delighted to have conquered the first success of his career at the wheel of a Silver Arrow, Bottas claims he had always the possibility to improve.
“I still have not shown the full extent of my potential. I have to keep fighting until at the end of the season with my team-mate Lewis Hamilton.” Bottas said.
The 28 year-old driver had left Williams team at the beginning of the year to replace the German Nico Rorberg, just crowned world champion but who decided to retire.
Mercedes team is in advanced discussions with Bottas team-mate Lewis Hamilton to extend the contract of the 32 year-old driver who had won three-time world champion.
Valtteri Bottas and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton. (Source:www.skysports.com)
The leader of the F1 standings, hired for now until the end of 2018, was confident about this at the Italian Grand Prix. However, there is a rumour said that he should not be made before the end of this season.
By offering only one more year to Bottas, the Brackley team reserves the possibility for 2019 to easily recruit another driver, who could be one of the current drivers of Red Bull, Australian Daniel Ricciardo and the Dutchman Max Verstappen, or Force India driver Esteben Ocon.
