Lewis Hamilton has made it clear he sees no reason why Mercedes should replace Valtteri Bottas for 2022.
At least in the media, the Finn’s future is very uncertain, with growing speculation that Williams driver George Russell is being lined up to take his seat alongside the current seven-time world champion.
However, ahead of the Styrian Grand Prix, Bottas again brushed off the rumours, while also stating his case.
“It’s not a new situation for me, every year I’ve been in the same situation, waiting for my future to be clear for the next year,” he explained.
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“Everyone knows how this sport works: if you make results, you earn your place where you deserve to be and if you don’t make results, if the team feels it needs to make a driver change then they’ll change the driver.
“It’s very simple in this sport and, again, I’ll go back to saying there are still 16 races to go, the team knows what I’m capable of and how valuable I’ve been in recent years in getting the championship.”
Last weekend, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff duped the press by claiming he would wait until this winter to make a decision before later clarifying it was a joke.
And Bottas did offer a timetable on when talks with the team would begin.
“It’s not yet time for those discussions. We’re in the middle of a triple header, with still two races to go in the next two weeks, but I’m sure in the off weeks there will be time to discuss, when it’s going to be the time,” he said.
“That’s the situation I’m in and that’s the situation I need to try and maximise.”
And now, Bottas’ chances of keeping the seat he’s had since 2017 may have received a boost after Lewis Hamilton declared his support for the 31-year-old.
“Valtteri is my team now and we’ve both of us had our ups and downs in our careers,” he said via RaceFans on Thursday. “But I think he is a fantastic teammate and I don’t necessarily see that it needs to change.”
Of course, Hamilton himself is also currently un-signed for 2022, but a new contract does appear a formality.
“We have begun discussions,” he revealed. “Not a lot to say too much but we have started discussions and things are positive.”
