Mercedes has confirmed that Valtteri Bottas will remain with the team for the 2021 Formula 1 season.
Bottas, 30, joined Mercedes as a replacement for Nico Rosberg in 2017 after spending the first four years of his Formula 1 career with Williams.
Bottas has won eight grands prix for Mercedes and last season enjoyed his strongest campaign in Formula 1, finishing runner-up in the standings, behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton is also expected to stay with Mercedes into next year.
Mercedes entertained the notion of recruiting four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel or promoting protégé George Russell, but Bottas was always the leading candidate to remain.
“I’m very happy to stay with Mercedes in 2021 and build on the success we’ve enjoyed together already,” said Bottas.
“Thank you to everyone in the team and the wider Mercedes family for their continued support and their trust in me. I’m very proud to represent this great team and the three-pointed star on our journey together again next year.
“The past few years have been all about continuous improvement, working on every aspect of my performance. I’m confident that today I’m the strongest I’ve ever been, but I can always raise the bar.
“Mercedes embraces the same philosophy: They always want to get better and are always hungry for more.
“Ever since I fell in love with F1 as a kid it’s been my dream to one day become world champion. I’m in the fight for the title this year and staying with Mercedes puts me in the best possible position to compete for it next season as well.
“We’re in the middle of a shortened season and I want to give my absolute best in every single race we’ll go to this year.
“The puncture last weekend was a bit of a blow in my fight with Lewis, but I’m determined to come back strong this weekend on the same track.”
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