Bottas does 'not care' if Hamilton re-signs | F1 News by PlanetF1
With F1’s rumour mill still speculating about Lewis Hamilton’s contract situation, Valtteri Bottas says he does “not care” if the Brit signs a new deal.
While Bottas put pen to paper on a new one-year Mercedes deal back in August last year, his team-mate Hamilton has yet to commit his future to the Brackley squad.
Despite winning a record-equalling seventh World title in 2020, the recently knighted British driver hasn’t been able to agree terms with Mercedes, or perhaps best to say with Mercedes’ parent company Daimler.
With eight weeks go to until the start of the new season in Bahrain, Mercedes are a driver short.
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff says it is only a matter of time before Hamilton signs but, should that not happen, the team has a rather good replacement in the wings in George Russell.
Bottas, who is definitely racing for Mercedes this season, says he doesn’t care one way or the other.
“I do not care,” Racingnews365 quotes him as having told Pelicans TV.
“All Formula 1 drivers are good, so whoever gets it it will be tough.
“For now I can focus better on myself.”
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That focus, Bottas says, is completely on what he needs to do to win the World title.
Mercedes’ dominance means Formula 1 needs Bottas to rise to the occasion and challenge Hamilton for the Drivers’ title.
Runner up in 2019 and again last year, the Finn wants to go one better this season.
“Obviously I have only one goal,” he said.
“As a team we have been performing at the top for years now and we have won the Constructors’ Championship. My team-mate has been beating me for years now, so my only goal is to beat him.
“I am focused only on myself. If I do that and keep developing myself, it will be a good season.”
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