Valtteri Bottas says he expects discussions with Mercedes over his future to open in the next month or so.
Bottas has been with Mercedes since 2017 on a series of one-year deals.
The Finn’s retention for 2021 was confirmed in early August 2020, while previous extensions were made public in July (2018) and August (2019).
Mercedes’ 2022 line-up has already been a topic through the early stages of 2021, amid Lewis Hamilton’s one-year deal, and the presence of junior George Russell, who is in the final year of a three-year Williams contract.
“We haven’t yet talked about anything, because this is being a pretty demanding championship and we know how much it matters to be able to work in peace, let’s say, when you can focus on the main thing, that is performance,” said Bottas.
“But that time will come, for sure, it hasn’t been yet, but for sure time flies, especially as we’re soon going to go to triple headers.
“So I would imagine that, naturally, over the next month or so you need to start to speak and I know from previous experiences that the sooner you can sort things out, the better for everyone. It will come soon, but not yet.”
Bottas enters this weekend’s Azerbaijan round 58 points behind title leader Max Verstappen in the wake of his second retirement of the campaign.
He conceded that “my mental strength has been tested” amid the “tricky start” of the season – though vowed the setbacks will not affect his approach.
“It’s all about how you bounce back from those and how you, move forward, because you know the losers’ option, is to give up,” he said. “And it’s not something I’m going to do.
“I’m still keeping very strong, strong mentally and knowing that it’s a long, long season ahead and for sure many good battles to come and, hopefully many wins.
“I have full belief in myself and for us as a team that we still have time to do good things.”
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