Bottas set to extend Mercedes contract till 2018

Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas is all set to sign a new one-year contract extension with Mercedes which will keep him with the team until the end of 2018 Formula One season.

Last year, the 27-year-old had signed a one-year deal to replace suddenly-retired Nico Rosberg as Lewis Hamilton's new teammate at Mercedes for the ongoing season.

And it seems that Mercedes want to keep him for the upcoming season as well, with team boss Toto Wolff declaring that he is really satisfied with Bottas' performance.

"I'm really satisfied with Valtteri. I think looking at his performance, it really is a no brainer. But it's not just about next year but also the years after. We have to put all the puzzle pieces together," Sport24 quoted Wolff as saying.

Although Wolff expressed confidence that Bottas would most probably continue with the team in 2018 season as well, he insisted that he would think about the same thoroughly after the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"After the race in Budapest I will think about it some more on the beach. I think yes, we are 90% ready," said Wolff when asked about Bottas' future with Mercedes.

Bottas, who made his full Formula One debut for Williams in 2013, is currently standing at the third position in the driver's championship while Hamilton is one place ahead of his Mercedes partner at the second spot after 10 races.

-ANI