Valtteri Bottas is hopeful the uncertainty over his future at Mercedes won’t be a long-lived story this year, admitting the talks can be “disturbing”.
The Finn’s initial one-year deal with the UK-based German manufacturer was only extended by an additional season after a strong start in the circumstances after his late switch from Williams tapered off.
A victory in Abu Dhabi suggested Bottas was ready to up his game again for 2018 but now he has to deliver, knowing performances like that at Yas Marina will only be enough.
“For sure there will be a deadline to get to know what the future is going to hold,” he said, ahead of the opening race this weekend in Australia. “Whether it is going to be earlier or later this year we’ll see.
“There’s no point to drag things too late because as a driver you have a lot of things to think about and to focus on, so contract talks can be a bit disturbing,” the three-time race winner added.
“The team knows [that] as well, so when the time is right we’ll try to make the decision.”
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Bottas is all too aware that drivers are seeing his seat as a potential target for next year, with Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon both vocally expressing interest.
The 28-year-old insists, however, for now, the only pressure being applied is from himself.
“I learned so much with the team last year and now it’s been a much smoother start of the year, being able to focus on the things that matter,” he explained.
“It’s a different feeling. I need to perform, use everything I learned last year and in my five years in Formula 1 [to fight for the title].”
