Bottas responds to F1 seat rumours as he seeks clarity

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.”