Mercedes: Valtteri Bottas may stay
CONTRACT EXTENSION Consistency among the world champions: The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team has extended its contract with Valtteri Bottas until at least the end of the 2021 Formula 1 season. Under the new agreement, Valtteri Bottas will complete his fifth season together with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team next year. The soon-to-be 31-year-old Finn joined the team in the [...]
As part of the new agreement, Valtteri Bottas will complete his fifth season together with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team next year. The soon-to-be 31-year-old Finn joined the team in the 2017 season and has since won eight races with Mercedes.
Bottas' last victory to date dates back to July 5, 2020, when he won the delayed season opener at the Austrian GP in Spielberg. Since then, his team-mate Lewis Hamilton has finished in front three times again.
Second force
Over the past three years, Valtteri Bottas has played a key role in the team's success in the Constructors' World Championship. He finished the 2019 season in second place in the Drivers' World Championship.
Ahead of next Sunday's Formula 1 70th anniversary GP at Silverstone, he is also in second place in the 2020 drivers' standings behind his team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Valtteri Bottas "I am delighted to be staying with Mercedes in 2021 and to be able to build on the successes we have already achieved together. Many thanks to the entire team and the Mercedes family for their continued support and trust in me."
Stronger than ever before
In recent years, continuous improvement has been a priority for him. Bottas has therefore worked on every aspect of his performance. His conviction that he is stronger than ever this year is confirmed by his team boss.
Toto Wolff: "This year, we are seeing the strongest Valtteri to date - both in terms of his performance on the race track as well as physically and mentally. I am confident that we currently have the strongest driver pairing in Formula 1. The contract extension with Valtteri is an important first step towards maintaining this strength in the future."
A dream or reality at some point?
Bottas not only wants to continue dreaming of his childhood dream of becoming world champion one day, but also to realize it with Mercedes one day.
Valtteri Bottas: "In 2020, I will be racing for the title, and by staying with Mercedes, I am in the best possible position to fight for it next year too. We are in the middle of a shortened season and I want to give my best at every race this year. Last weekend's puncture set me back in my duel with Lewis, but I'm determined to come back stronger on the track this weekend."
