Valtteri Bottas believes one-year contracts at Mercedes created unnecessary pressure


Valtteri Bottas believes one-year contracts at Mercedes created unnecessary pressure

Valtteri Bottas

Valtteri Bottas has been one of the most consistent drivers in the past few seasons. The Finnish driver finished second in the championship standings last season. However, the Mercedes driver has often been criticized for not challenging Lewis Hamilton for the title.

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As Valtteri Bottas’ future at Silver Arrows hangs in the balance, he believes that unnecessary pressure could have been avoided if Mercedes handed to him, multi-year contracts. The Finnish driver has always been handed one-year contracts since 2017, which he believes might have impacted his performance.

“It’s just speculation and it’s just guesswork based on what I’m feeling right now, but it would certainly have saved a lot of energy and a lot of unnecessary pressure,” he told speedweek.com as quoted by PlanetF1.

Not just focusing on the moment, but knowing you’re with the team and can focus on next year and all the improvements you want to share with the team for the future. It would certainly have been a different piece of mind, but it’s just speculation,” Bottas added.

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Valtteri Bottas refuses to comment on George Russell

George Russell is expected to replace Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes next season, as the Briton is in the final year of his three-year Williams contract. Valtteri Bottas was asked as to whether he is a better option as compared to George Russell, which he refused to answer.

Valtteri Bottas stated that all he wants to focus is on his own driving, and he would not like to judge any other driver. “You never know with the performance of the other teams how they really are and against their team-mate it is quite tricky to know,” said Bottas.

But I’m confident to say I am a good asset for the team and it definitely would be different if I wasn’t here. I’m confident with my driving skills, but I don’t make the decisions. The future will show,” he added.

Also Read: “Is He Going to Pay the Bill?”: Christian Horner Issues Blunt Response on Toto Wolff’s Valtteri Bottas Apology

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