Bottas unfazed by Ocon 2020 rumours

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Valtteri Bottas unfazed by Esteban Ocon rumours

Valtteri Bottas unfazed by Esteban Ocon rumours

Valtteri Bottas is adamant he’s not worried about rumours linking Esteban Ocon to his Mercedes seat, saying if he is not in the car in 2020 that will be his own fault.

Ocon is in talks with Williams regarding a drive for next season, however, the Frenchman wants just one year in order to keep his options open should Mercedes come calling.

The team has Bottas signed for 2019 with an option on the Finn for the following season.

He, however, is adamant that if Mercedes don’t exercise that option it will be because of his own doing, not because Ocon is knocking on the door.

“I think it’s going to be completely up to me,” he said. “I think that’s going to be the fact.

“If I perform the way I am personally expecting and the team is expecting then everything is good.

“If I don’t perform for some reason then that’s going to be my fault then I could be under pressure but if things go the way I want, the way I plan, there’s no worries.”

With team boss Toto Wolff already speaking about possible team orders in Austin, Bottas is hoping Lewis Hamilton can wrap up the title this weekend as that means he will then be free to race for wins himself.

“I’m still trying to do the best job I can, if the title is secured or not. I try to do my best,” he said.

“The only thing I want to do is to win races and it would be more likely to be able to do that with the title set. That’s it.

“He’s fighting for the title, and I’m not, so I hope my team-mate wins the title and [I wish] all the best for him.”

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