Bottas: One-year deal won't affect 2020 season

  • Published on 01 Mar 2020 12:38
  • comments 5
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Valtteri Bottas affirms that his current one-year contract at Mercedes won't add extra pressure on his shoulders in 2020.

Since joining the team in 2017, Bottas has been retained by the Silver Arrows on a year-by-year basis alongside six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Both Bottas and Hamilton are out of contract at the end of the 2020 campaign ahead of a major regulation change in the sport in 2021.

With Mercedes junior George Russell currently racing at Williams, Bottas is not worried about the possibility of losing his seat at the team.

“Honestly it’s not affecting me in any way. It’s the same as before,” said the Finn. “It’s not a new situation. But it is interesting for sure this year with the championship and then looking at next year with big changes in Formula 1 in general.

“But that’s later on, I’m not thinking about it too much at the moment. The preparation has been very good and hasn’t really changed in that many ways.”

Bottas 'feels developed' from 2019

In 2019, Bottas opened his championship in strong fashion, winning two out of the first four races, including Australia, the first race of the season.

His solid form saw him pick up the nickname 'Bottas 2.0', however his title challenge disappeared as the season wore on.

When asked if he is preparing to unleash 'Valtteri 3.0' in 2020, he replied: “I don’t know about the numbers or versions but I feel very good. I feel very developed from last year.

“I had a good break to take time to step back from Formula 1 and process everything from last year. I started to work early with the engineers in January preparing for this season.

“Based on my feeling in the car, I feel I’ve been able to make progress since last year. It only matters in the races, but I’m in a good mindset, I’m just waiting for the season, I’ve been waiting for quite some time for the season to start.”

Kinda has to though. Bottas must git gud this season, or he might be replaced, regardless of whether he is a good B-driver or not.

  • 1
  • Mar 1 2020 - 12:41

Replies (5)

Login to reply
  • Kinda has to though. Bottas must git gud this season, or he might be replaced, regardless of whether he is a good B-driver or not.

    • + 1
    • Mar 1 2020 - 12:41
    • Agree. But even if he doesn't beat Ham and get renewed at Merc I would be very surprised if he finds himself without a seat next year. It's got to be tough being in Ham's shadow, it makes him look not as good as he is. He isn't at Merc because just he's a good number 2, but because he is one of the best drivers on the grid. I would say in the top 5 if not the top 7.

      • + 0
      • Mar 2 2020 - 04:46
    • Manto02

      Posts: 93

      One of the best drivers on the grid Bottas?
      He he is only there because Merc can use him for team orders and is a good driver but nothing more.
      On the grid he is far behind Hamilton, Vettel, leclerc, verstappen, albon, norris, sainz, russel, ricciardo in terms of skills, maybe he is as good as Perez or maybe even Perez could be better in a mercedes

      • + 0
      • Mar 2 2020 - 12:45
    • Agree with most observations. But, my ranking of Bottas would be different. Ham, Max, Lec, Ricciardo, Vettel, Sainz, Bottas.

      • + 0
      • Mar 2 2020 - 16:59
  • Im not going to comment on Bottas again this year, said it all before, desperately requires 3.0.

    • + 0
    • Mar 2 2020 - 12:49

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Sauber
  • Points 1,608
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 206
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (35)
  • Place of b. Nastola, FI
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar