Bottas ‘should be’ on top teams’ radars

Editor

Pat Symonds understands why Valtteri Bottas is being linked to F1's top teams given that he is a "damn good driver."

According to reports it is only a matter of time before the Finn, who joined Williams in 2012, heads off to Ferrari.

Out of contract with Williams at the end of this season, it is believed to be only the team's option on him for 2016 that has prevented the 25-year-old from signing with the Italian stable.

And Symonds says he is not surprised by the interest in his driver.

"He's certainly on their radar and so he should be," the Chief Technical Officer told Sky Sports F1.

"He is a damn good driver and he is certainly one of the top of the up-and-coming group at the moment and therefore it is no surprise to see other teams courting him."

The Brit, though, would like Bottas to stay on at Williams and feels the team can offer him plenty of motivation to do so.

He added: "But I think one mustn't underestimate what Williams can give him as well and, as a team, we are building up, we've had a fabulous rise over the last couple of seasons and we are sustaining it, which is the important thing.

"So I would like to think Valtteri can see into the future and see where we might get to. We are all aware of some quite famous drivers who jump at the wrong time."