Bottas ‘performs better’ with 2020 drive secured

Valtteri Bottas isn’t sure if the uncertainty over his Mercedes future affected his performances, but knows the security he now has helps his future.

The Silver Arrows were weighing up whether to go with Bottas or Ocon for 2020, but they would ultimately choose to retain the Finn while Ocon signed for Renault.

Bottas began his season in style, winning the Australian and Azerbaijan Grand Prix’s, but a ten-race spell without a win has seen his drop 63 points behind Mercedes team-mate and Drivers’ Championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

The Finn is unsure whether his ongoing contract negotiations prior to the summer break had an impact on his form.

“It’s always the same,” Bottas is quoted by F1i.com. “I can’t say honestly if it made a difference or not.

“I can only say that it’s not going to make a difference in the future, knowing that everything is done.

“It’s impossible to say how it can affect your thinking process, your racecraft, your weekend preparation if there’s’ talks going on or not.

“Knowing myself, I perform better when things are done and there are no disturbing things from that side. So, I’m definitely feeling better than before the break.”

Since his last win in Baku Bottas has scored points at every round except the German GP where he crashed out in tricky conditions – he would like to find out if his contract negotiations were weighing on his mind and caused him to crash.

“It would be nice to know if a couple of the mistakes I did, like let’s say Hockenheim if it had an effect or not,” Bottas confirmed.

“But I can’t say, honestly. When I went off, I was not thinking, ‘do I have a contract for next year or not?’. But if it affects somehow, who knows.”

Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1 and like our Facebook page.