Hamilton-backed Bottas confident Mercedes knows “how valuable” he is

Valtteri Bottas has followed up on Lewis Hamilton’s suggestion Mercedes should keep its current driver line-up for next year by claiming the team “knows how valuable” he has been in its championship battles.

Bottas is under pressure to retain his seat, with Williams driver and Mercedes protégé George Russell waiting in the wings to pick up the drive, although the Finn is unconcerned by the constantly churning rumour mill.

“It is not a new situation for me," said Bottas, who starts from fifth on the grid for today's Styrian Grand Prix due to a three-place penalty.

"I have been many times in the same boat, waiting for my future to be clear the next year and it is again the same situation.

“It is nothing new for me, it is normal, and everyone knows how this sport works. If you make results, you will earn a place where you deserve to be and if you don’t, if the team feels it needs to change the driver then they change the driver.

“It is very simple in this sport and again I am just going back to there are 16 races to go and the team knows what I am capable of, they know how valuable I have been in recent years in terms of getting the championship etcetera.

“It is not yet time for those discussions. I’m sure in the off-weeks we will have time to discuss when it is going to be the time.”

Bottas getting tough

Bottas was outspoken against the team on the in-car radio during last weekend's French Grand Prix when he openly criticised it for taking the wrong call on strategy, resulting in him dropping out of the podium positions.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said after the race he liked the direct approach Bottas took, and the Finn explained he has consciously tried to become more outspoken to get his voice heard this year.

“I always try everything I can and when you approach a new year of course you try to always fight more for yourself,” he added. “I always want to maximise my result, my team’s result.

“I always try to be incredibly direct and I’m glad if he liked it but I wasn’t happy obviously in that situation. But that is racing. There are emotions. It is so hard to describe the feeling when you are in the car.

“We are not in a tea party. We are in an elite top-level sport and I want to do well and want the team to do well, so there are emotions - even for a Finn.”

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