Valtteri Bottas does not expect a decision on his future to be made before the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of August but admits he is keen to get the decision whether he will remain with the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team beyond 2017 decided sooner rather than later.
The Finn joined Mercedes from the Williams Martini Racing team at the start of this season following the decision of Nico Rosberg to retire from Formula 1 after clinching the World Drivers’ Championship in 2016, but has excelled in the W08, taking two wins in Russia and Austria as well as finishing on the podium in the past five races.
Whereas team-mate Lewis Hamilton got the early advantage on Bottas, it has been the Finn that has out-scored the Briton in recent races, and sits just nineteen points behind heading into the summer break, although both drivers are currently trailing Scuderia Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
“For sure, soon we will start to… we need to speak [about] what’s going to happen, obviously,” said Bottas of his future. “I have no idea about the future yet so, for sure, we will speak at some point, but the problem is that the mobile phone is not so good in the sauna!
“It doesn’t work, so it could take a while, so don’t expect anything in Spa…
“I’ve got to the point with the team that I feel that I can definitely perform at my best level and now we’ll continue to work ahead. Sure, there’s plenty more to come, but I’m feeling good in the team.”
