Valtteri Bottas says his management is working to secure his F1 future, but like Toto Wolff, feels the bad result in Hungary won’t be the defining factor.
While it is understood that one grand prix like that in Hungary won’t decide the future of Bottas in Mercedes, but for a driver like the Finn, who doesn’t have a contract at hand, he needs as many good results as possible to keep convincing his current employers.
Not that Mercedes doubts the capabilities of Bottas, who remains part of the Top 3 drivers in most races, along with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. A handful of misfortunes has set him behind in the drivers’ standings, but the pace has been good enough.
With the future of Hamilton set, Bottas remains hanging in the middle, amid speculations of George Russell, eventually making it into Mercedes. The Finn’s manager Didier Coton was present at Hungaroring, getting into thick of things to secure his F1 future.
Outside Mercedes, Bottas is already linked with Alfa Romeo and Williams, with the former being reportedly higher on the list. When asked if Coton has been around in Hungary, the Finn visibly said yes, while adding, “I can’t tell you [what he’s up to], but they’re working.”
He like Wolff, though, ruled out the happenings in Hungary to define his future. “I don’t think one race will influence anything,” said Bottas to written media. “I don’t think so, yeah, we’ll see in the next weeks what happens.”
Wolff, meanwhile, acknowledged his driver’s mistake, but concurred with Bottas. “No, the mistake was unfortunate with big consequences,” he said. “He got sandwiched by the two cars in front, lost downforce and then it was already too late. And it doesn’t influence at all the decision.”
Here’s Adrian Newey on off-track battle with Mercedes
Here’s drone view of Mercedes F1 base at Brackley
Here’s Lewis Hamilton appreciating Toto Wolff’s radio
