Mercedes has confirmed Valtteri Bottas will remain with the team for 2020.

Heading into the summer break, speculation was growing that the Finn could be replaced with reserve driver Esteban Ocon for next season following a tricky run of results.

However, with the Frenchman set to join Renault, that has enabled Mercedes to activate the one-year extension in Bottas' contract to stay alongside Lewis Hamilton.

“I am very happy and proud to be part of the team for a fourth season and wish to thank every team member and the board of Mercedes for their trust and belief in me," Bottas said in a press release.

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“My performances have been getting better and better each year, and this is a great way to kick start the second half of 2019.

“My overall target is to become Formula 1 world champion and I believe that on paper, and from my experience with the team, Mercedes is the best option for me to achieve that goal in 2020.

“We have nine races to go this season and I am determined to keep improving at every one of them. Now, all my thoughts are on Spa and delivering a strong performance with the team this weekend.”

Hopes of Bottas winning the title this season appear slim with Hamilton holding a 62-point lead, but it is clear that the newly-turned 30-year-old has made progress after a winless year last season.

And it is that which Mercedes boss Toto Wolff highlighted as he explained the decision.

“For 2019, we set Valtteri the challenge of coming back even stronger than we saw him in the first part of 2018 – and he has achieved that, with some really impressive performances in the early races this year," said the Austrian.

“Although it has been his most successful first half of a championship so far, he is hungry for more and determined to keep on improving and raising his level. That’s the mindset we want from all our team members.

“The results we have achieved together with Valtteri are no coincidence: he has been an integral part of our championship success in the past two seasons, his teamwork with Lewis has been exemplary and he has shown real strength of character in how he has responded to setbacks.

“I’m delighted that he will stay with the team for another season at least – and look forward to seeing him raise the bar even further.”