Valtteri Bottas will continue at Mercedes AMG Motorsport for next season after the team exercised an option to extend his contract.
Mercedes decision means they will keep the partnership of Bottas and reigning champions Lewis Hamilton for a fourth consecutive season.
The Finn currently sits second in the drivers standings and has won twice this season at the Australian Grand Prix and Azerbaijan Grand Prix along with securing four pole positions.
Bottas has also helped the team secure seven one-two finishes in 2019 to give the team a healthy lead in the constructors championship.“I am very happy and proud to be part of the team for a fourth season and wish to thank every team member and the board of Mercedes for their trust and belief in me.
“My performances have been getting better and better each year, and this is a great way to kick start the second half of 2019.
“My overall target is to become Formula One world champion. I believe that on paper, and from my experience with the team, Mercedes is the best option for me to achieve that goal in 2020.
“We have nine races to go this season and I am determined to keep improving at every one of them. Now, all my thoughts are on Spa and delivering a strong performance with the team this weekend.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said before the summer break that he would consider his options for the vacant seat at the team for 2020 and is delighted to have signed up Bottas for another year.
“For 2019, we set Valtteri the challenge of coming back even stronger than we saw him in the first part of 2018 – and he has achieved that, with some really impressive performances in the early races this year.
“Although it has been his most successful first half of a championship so far, he is hungry for more and determined to keep on improving and raising his level. That’s the mindset we want from all our team members.
“The results we have achieved together with Valtteri are no coincidence: he has been an integral part of our championship success in the past two seasons, his teamwork with Lewis has been exemplary and he has shown real strength of character in how he has responded to setbacks.
“I’m delighted that he will stay with the team for another season at least – and look forward to seeing him raise the bar even further.”
