Official: Bottas will be alongside Hamilton at Mercedes in 2019
Valtteri Bottas and Mercedes have confirmed their contract extension for the 2019 season with an option for 2020. The Finn will therefore be teammate to Lewis Hamilton next year, closing the door to many other contenders for a seat at Mercedes.
A day after the announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s contract renewal for two additional years with Mercedes, it’s Valtteri Bottas’s turn to be confirmed in his role for the next season with an option for 2020.
The discreet Finn is satisfied with this announcement before the traditional summer break: « It’s good news to know that I will be racing for Mercedes in 2019 and it’s nice to announce it here at Hockenheim, not only because it’s Mercedes’ home race, but also because it’s the circuit where I achieved my first victories in single-seaters in 2007. This year, with a full winter of preparation, I’ve been able to make a good step forward and I believe there is still much more to come. We haven’t had much luck in the races this year, but the team knows how I am performing, and it’s a great sign of confidence in me and my driving. I enjoy working with the team, and being teammates with Lewis. We maintain a good, honest, and direct relationship, and we always strive to achieve the best results for Mercedes. »
A logical extension for Toto Wolff who wanted to maintain the atmosphere and quality of work between his two main protagonists: When we made the decision in favor of Valtteri for 2019, it wasn’t just about his speed and work ethic, but also a matter of character, his relationship with the team, including Lewis, is open and we are confident. These are the ingredients you need when facing strong rivals in both championships and they reflect the team’s values, concluded the Austrian.
