Williams ‘evaluating our options’

As Ferrari closed the door to Valtteri Bottas, the Finn’s future is now uncertain with Williams revealing they are still evaluating their options.

Bottas was one of several drivers linked to Ferrari in recent times. However, with the Scuderia confirming Kimi Raikkonen for 2017, that door is now closed.

As for his team-mate, Felipe Massa is out of contract at the end of this season but has stressed that he is keen to remain in Formula 1.

For now, though, Williams are not even entering negotiations with either driver as deputy team principal Claire Williams wants to keep the focus on the track.

She said: “We are evaluating our options. We still feel it’s quite early in the year to be making our decision.

“We have some performance issues at the moment so we really need Valtteri and Felipe to be concentrating on their track performance rather than worrying about what’s happening in 2017.

“As you’d expect those conversations are going on behind closed doors and when we’re ready to make an announcement we will, but I don’t foresee that being the next few races.”

Later asked who she would sign if she could choose any drivers not currently on the Williams pay role, Williams replied: “I would have Nigel Mansell and Juan Pablo Montoya.”