Bottas: Merc talks were pretty straightforward

Valtteri Bottas only entered “serious” talks with Mercedes about next season at the British GP, saying it was all pretty straightforward.

Mercedes announced on Friday that the Finn would remain Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate for the 2019 season while they also have an option on him for 2020.

That completed the team’s line-up as a day prior the team confirmed Hamilton’s two-year deal.

“It was pretty straightforward, because when we spoke with the team already in 2017 and for ’18, we already had a plan for the future,” Bottas revealed.

“Based on what we’ve done before, we seriously spoke about the contract for the first time at Silverstone. It’s not that far away, and now we’re here. So it’s pretty easy.”

Bottas added that having a new deal in hand has removed some of the pressue he was feeling as he can now concentrate solely on his on-track performances.

“I felt a small amount of pressure went off my shoulders, even though you don’t want to think about it, but between the races you do,” he said.

“I think now it’s a good situation for us as a team, for me, for Lewis, for all the team, we can just focus on the tough battle for the rest of the year knowing all of us is going to stay at least for next year.

“We can work hard for all of our benefits and together as a team, so that’s good.”

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