Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says keeping Valtteri Bottas at the team for the 2018 Formula 1 season is “almost a no-brainer”.
The Finnish driver is only on a one-year contract after being drafted in to replace 2016 F1 champion Nico Rosberg, following his shock retirement.
Bottas has edged closer to the title fight in recent races, following his wins in Russia and Austria, and charging drives to second place in Baku and Great Britain.
However, Wolff wants to see how the driver market puzzle comes together before committing to anything, and is also focused on looking beyond 2018 too.
Mercedes is also in no rush to make a decision and an agreement is not expected before the summer break.
“He's almost a no-brainer [for 2018],” Wolff said after the British Grand Prix. “I would just like to get the puzzle together, and it's not only about 2018, but I think it is logical.
"I think it's about looking forward and what happens in '19 and '20, the risk and opportunities.
“That's why after Budapest, and hopefully a good race again, I'm going to contemplate on a beach about what's right and wrong for the team.”
F1 championship leader Sebastian Vettel now holds a one-point lead over Lewis Hamilton after the British GP, with Bottas 23 points behind the Ferrari driver.
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