Bottas enters his fifth season for Mercedes in 2021, having helped the team win the Constructors’ Championship in each of his last four years alongside Lewis Hamilton.
However, the Finn was always re-signed with rolling one-year contracts with Mercedes, with his existing contract expiring at the end of this season.
With team-mate Hamilton, who currently also has a one-year contract, Mercedes has maximum flexibility in the driver market with two vacant seats for 2022.
PLUS: How Hamilton’s one-year contract will open up the driver market in 2022
After a lengthy negotiation phase on his 2019 contract, Bottas said last year that he wanted a quick resolution of the talks, with a new contract for 2021 being announced in early August.
But at the start of the new season, Bottas said he was in no hurry to open talks on a deal for 2022 and recognized the advantage the team has by keeping two seats vacant.
“To be honest, I’m not in a hurry,” said Bottas after the presentation of the new Mercedes W12 car before the 2021 season.
“I kind of understand. For the big change in 2022, if the team has the opportunity to have options to choose both drivers, I think that’s good for the team.
“But yes, to be honest, on my part, don’t rush. I’m just going full throttle for the season and trying to achieve my goals.
“At some point it will be a topic of conversation. Not quite yet.”
The future of Bottas will be one of the main focal points of the F1 driver market in 2021 as Mercedes ponders where star junior George Russell will be placed for next year.
Russell retired from Williams at the end of this season and impressed during his only appearance for Mercedes at last year’s Sakhir Grand Prix, where he represented COVID-affected Hamilton.
Bottas has not defeated Hamilton in the championship in the past four years and admitted that it would be “disappointing” if he did not beat his teammate for one season.
“Of course it would be disappointing in a way, because I’ve been a Lewis team-mate for several years now, and of course that’s the goal every year,” said Bottas.
“But what would be more disappointing if I look back and see things that I could have done better or should have tried harder.
“I don’t want a what if after this year, that’s the ultimate goal. When I give all I have, when, as I said, when I maximize myself and the people around me and give all I have, then there is no regret.
“But I speak like I’m not fighting with Lewis or winning titles. I haven’t thought that far yet. I am fully concentrating on this season and of course we will see further after that. “
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