Valtteri Bottas admits his improved results in 2019 was likely the reason Mercedes opted to retain him for next season.
The Finn enjoyed his best year in Formula 1 scoring four wins and finishing second in the Drivers’ standings, albeit still 87 points behind teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Even so, that was significantly better than the year before when Bottas finished fifth in the championship and became the first Mercedes driver since 2012 to not win a race.
“If I’ve had a similar season to 2018, I don’t [think] the team would have continued with me, that’s how Formula 1 works,” Bottas, who raced with the pressure of reserve driver Esteban Ocon watching on, admitted.
“It’s so important for me and also for my general well-being.
“I’ve had much more fun between the races now, and kind of fell in love with the sport, which I maybe lost a little bit towards the end of last year.
“I’m really enjoying the driving and it was such an important season for me. Now I can happily say again I have many, many years of me, and hopefully still with that same development.”
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In the immediate term, Bottas faces another critical season in 2020 but does feel his performances at the end of this year stand him in good stead.
“It’s nicer, and an easier way mentally to start the [next] season,” he said. “I feel it’s important to have good results, not only in the last few races.
“It’s not 100% necessary because I know that even after a bad season, you can start a new season strong.
“But it is just nicer, and also for the team to know that I can perform for the whole year, on every single race track, and then they know that I’m definitely upward for 2020.”
With the silly season already underway for 2021, however, with many big moves already being rumoured, Bottas admits Mercedes may not be his only option.
“There will be a lot of movement but if I could choose now what I would like, then I would obviously stay here,” he stated.
“I believe in the work we do every day and I have become a better driver, but at the same time, I am also open to other solutions.”
Even so: “I don’t want to talk about it even before the season starts,” the 30-year-old admitted. “I’ll wait and see what happens.”