Valtteri Bottas Secures 2018 Contract With Mercedes F1

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Valtteri Bottas has signed an additional years contract with the Mercedes F1 team.  Moving from Williams following a last minute vacancy when Nico Rosberg announced his retirement a week after clinching the world championship.

Bottas, who has always been extremely measured and calculating in his approach to the sport has gelled well with Lewis Hamilton.  The Fin has always been there to win, however the teammates have worked well together without any outward abrasion.  Bottas who secured his first F1 win with Mercedes said:  “I’m happy to have celebrated my first race win in a Silver Arrow, however, there’s always room for improvement and I still have not shown my full potential”.

Team boss Toto Wolff said; “We gave Valtteri a big challenge this year: joining the team at the eleventh hour, stepping up to the forefront of F1 and pairing with the sport’s best driver as his teammate. With that in mind, his results have been probably even more impressive. There have been ups and downs – more ups, fewer downs – and some great highlights like his two race wins in Russian and Austria”.  Wolff also added: “The chemistry and dynamic between Valtteri and Lewis work and are what we need to take the fight to our competitors”.

Wolff is obviously happy with the balance within the team, however by making this a one year contract, the German team leave their options open for the 2019 season.

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