Valtteri Bottas is slowly nearing the end of his year-long contract with Mercedes and the Finn is open-minded about his options post-2021.
However, it is not just Bottas who is in this situation. Mercedes, themselves have not signed up any driver for the upcoming 2022 season.
For the moment, it seems, that both the driver and the outfit are focused on winning races at the moment.
What did Bottas say?
“We haven’t yet talked about anything, because this is being a pretty demanding championship and we know how much it matters to be able to work in peace,” he said ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
“Then you can focus on the main thing, that is performance, but that time will come, for sure. It hasn’t been yet, but for sure time flies, especially as we’re soon going to go to triple headers.
“So I would imagine that, naturally, over the next month or so you need to start to speak and I know from previous experiences that the sooner you can sort things out, the better for everyone. It will come soon, but not yet,” he stated.
Open-minded about future
Bottas also revealed that he is open to options when it comes to his future.
“About my future, what are my thoughts? I’m quite open-minded,” he said.
“Like in life in general, you need to always take opportunities and you just never know what is around the corner.
“And that’s also having clear goals, what you’re pushing for and that has taken me this far.”
Bottas wants to follow his heart
Ever since he joined Mercedes back in 2017, Bottas has had to face enormous pressure driving for one of the strongest teams on the grid.
One can expect him to be losing steam as he ages in the sport.
But things are quite the opposite for the Finn as he feels he is still improving even at the age of 31.
“I always want to kind of follow my heart and follow my passion and I am still enjoying Formula 1 very much and racing at the front,” he said.
“I really, really love it and I still enjoy it as much as I did in for example my first year with Mercedes, no doubt.
“But if I look at the big picture, for sure I still have a good few years in me. I feel like, year by year, I keep improving in certain areas and keep getting better.
“And you know, I’m quite far from the oldest drivers on the grid, so in theory, I still have time.
“I don’t know what the future holds and I already try to take a weekend-by-weekend, and see what comes,” he concluded.
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