Welcome at RacingNews365

Become part of the largest racing community in the United Kingdom. Create your free account now!

  • Share your thoughts and opinions about F1
  • Win fantastic prizes
  • Get access to our premium content
  • Take advantage of more exclusive benefits
Sign in
Valtteri Bottas

Bottas responds to F1 seat rumours as he seeks clarity

Valtteri Bottas is out of contract at the end of the current campaign - but the Finnish driver has been heavily linked with a switch to Williams next year.

Bottas
Article
To news overview © XPBimages

Valtteri Bottas has denied he has penned a contract with Williams despite heavy speculation linking him to the Grove-based squad.

An image of the 10-time grand prix winner surfaced last week, showing Bottas walking out of Williams' motorhome at Imola.

It sparked suggestions that the Finnish driver is on the verge of reuniting with his former squad amid ongoing struggles for Logan Sargeant.

Bottas is out of contract at Stake at the end of this year and one seat at the squad has already been taken by Nico Hulkenberg, who has signed ahead of its transition to Audi.

However, Bottas has denied that any deal has been signed. 

“Unfortunately no news, nothing to add from last weekend,” he told media including RacingNews365. “I haven't signed to anywhere at the moment.

“I would like it to be sorted soon, which is kind of the same thing for all the teams, I guess, because things are really moving. So hopefully, within the next weeks [I'll know].”

Williams meeting

Bottas confirmed that he did speak with Williams team principal James Vowles at Imola last weekend.

“It was good [to talk], it's always nice to chat with an old friend. We had a good coffee,” Bottas said.

Bottas has worked with Vowles before, with the Briton holding a senior strategy role at Mercedes during Bottas' stint at the squad from 2017 to 2021.

The duo have shared famous interactions, with Vowles being the voice behind the famous 'Valtteri, it's James' team orders that occurred on a handful of occasions during Bottas' tenure at the Brackley-based outfit.

However, Bottas has asserted that he mantains a strong relationship with the 44-year-old.

“It's always been good,” Bottas said. “Obviously there was some stuff, people got excited about the 'James, Valtteri' radio comments stuff. 

“But that's been amplified by social media. My relationship has always been good, very straightforward and honest with him.”

Also interesting:

In the latest episode of the RacingNews365.com podcast, Ian Parkes, Samuel Coop and Nick Golding look back at this weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen and Lando Norris went head-to-head for the victory around the famous Imola Circuit as McLaren continue to pile the pressure on Red Bull!

Rather watch than listen to the podcast? Click here.

Join the conversation!

x
HOW TO WATCH Final hours of the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours