Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas is brimming with confidence about his driving as Formula 1 hits its summer break. The Finn may not be able to confirm where exactly he'll be driving for next season just yet, but believes that, wherever he ends up, he'll be a strong asset. Bottas is still a strong contender to remain as Lewis Hamilton's teammate at Mercedes for a sixth consecutive season next year but, with rumours that he may be usurped by George Russell, he has also been linked with a return to Williams or possibly to Alfa Romeo. "There is nothing holding me back at the moment," Bottas told ESPN. "Definitely, I would say I feel like in my career I am peaking. I still haven't reached that yet, there are always things I am learning and getting better at. "I will try everything I can for myself and for the team for the future, whatever happens." But as for whether that's Mercedes or not, Bottas can't yet say. "I'm confident to say I am a good asset for the team and it definitely would be different if I wasn't here," he added. "I'm confident with my driving skills, but I don't make the decisions. The future will show." Bottas couldn't be drawn on whether he has engaged in talks with other teams, despite the rumours of his potential fallbacks. "I prefer to keep that to myself – maybe I haven't and maybe I have," he said. "But I have many people behind me and for sure they have not been just resting at home and doing nothing. "So of course, you need to get a sense of what is available out there and what are the possibilities. If it's needed for me to speak with other teams then, then I will." Regardless of the outcome of Mercedes' decision on whether to keep him or look to pastures new, Bottas said that he won't be looking back on the past few seasons with any bad feelings. "I have to say, I have no regrets," he said. "I have always tried everything I can, and the same thing this year. Obviously this year has not been the best start of the season with many races not getting points with DNFs or whatever, but no regrets at all and I have always tried to give it all I have. "I have always tried to work as hard as I can. Even though every year so far I have been beaten by Lewis, I have always tried to find more ways in myself to come back stronger."
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