Mercedes has re-signed Valtteri Bottas for the 2021 Formula One season.
The non-surprising news emanating from the current dominant team of Formula One has the 30-year-old Finn staying with Mercedes through at least 2021 with, presumably, Lewis Hamilton [the six-time world champion has yet to formally agree to a new deal with the team].
Although Bottas won the first race of the 2020 F1 season, he is a perennial second fiddle to Hamilton and entering this weekend’s 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone, he is currently 30 points behind Hamilton in the 2020 F1 driver’s championship.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff played it safe with his announcement of Bottas re-upping with the team.
“He is second in the championship, finished the last season in P2 and plays a very important part in our overall team performance. I’m confident we have the strongest driver pairing in F1, and signing Valtteri is an important first step in retaining this strength. Valtteri is a hard-working, straightforward guy who has a good relationship with the entire team – including his teammate,” said Wolff.