Bottas wants quick short-term contract at Mercedes
F1 News
- Bobby Vincent
Valtteri Bottas wants to take advantage of his great start to the 2019 season by signing a new contract at Mercedes for the 2020 season, to block any potential Esteban Ocon replacement next season.
Bottas' winless 2018 mounted the pressure on the Finn and with Ocon's Force India career being cut short, the Frenchman became the obvious candidate to replace the Finn if he was to be axed by Mercedes.
However, Bottas won his first race since 2017 in the season-opener in Australia, and has finished the other two grands prix in P2 behind his team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Motorsport report that Bottas wants to try and sort out any negotiations as early as possible - so the Finn can focus solely on his racing rather than where he'll be next season. Usually, the extension to current contracts get announced following the summer break, but Bottas wants his done even earlier than that.
Ocon impressed at Force India last season, now known as Racing Point, but was unfortunately replaced following Lawrence Stroll's takeover of the British team and his wish for his son, Lance Stroll, to drive for the side.
The Frenchman has now become the reserve driver at Mercedes, and has spoken about his ambitions and goals to get back on the Formula 1 grid as soon as possible, following his departure.