Bottas in no rush to extend contract: 'I'm focused on tomorrow'
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Yesterday Mercedes announced that Lewis Hamilton will stay with the team for at least another two years. Good news for him, but it also raises questions about his teammate. For some time now rumours have been going around that George Russell will take over the seat from Valtteri Bottas starting next year. The Finn is taking it easy and would rather wait for the contract negotiations.
Hamilton's contract extension could put Bottas under pressure, but that doesn't seem to bother him. To Motorsport-Total.com The Mercedes driver told the following: "It just occurred to me that it's already July. And after the race after Spielberg, it's already August. So I'm sure we will discuss [it] soon, but not today or tomorrow."
"Lewis is confirmed, but the other cockpit is still up for grabs. So the team has to make a decision. And I have to have those conversations," he continued.
Bottas also interested in other teams
Nothing is certain yet for Bottas, but he does know that he will spend many more years in Formula One. "I love racing and I love Formula 1, so it's not certain that I will switch to another category in the next few years." Unfortunately, there is little room in F1, but should Bottas no longer drive at Mercedes, he is also interested in other teams.
"I have a good management team and they haven't told me anything yet. I don't know if they have contacted anyone yet. Because they know how important it is to focus on the current moment and do it as well as possible, as a team and I personally," Bottas continued.
According to the Finn, negotiations will take place soon though. "I don't know on which day or which week. But yes, we will have to look at all the options and see the situation as a whole," he says. "But for now I'm focusing on tomorrow." So Bottas seems to be in no hurry, but it will be an exciting decision. Until now he always signed a one-year contract with the team.