Valtteri Bottas has admitted he knew for some time in advance that he will be staying at Williams beyond 2013. The Finn made a solid formula one debut with the beleaguered British team this year, but he is the only driver outside F1's two bottom teams yet to score even a single point.
Nonetheless, the 24-year-old said he is happy to have retained the "trust" of the key people at Grove, notably father-and-daughter bosses Sir Frank and Claire Williams. "We are looking forward to giving him the equipment he deserves to show just how good he is," said Claire on Monday.
The news about Bottas' new 'multi-year' contract has been held up while the negotiations with Felipe Massa, and the departing Pastor Maldonado's lucrative backers PDVSA, took place. "For me it has been difficult because I have known (about the new deal) for some time," Bottas smiled to the Finnish broadcaster MTV3 when the news finally broke. "The guys in the team assured me long ago, but they only wanted to make it public when both drivers were sure," he added.
Bottas said his main problem in 2013 has been Williams' struggling car, but Monday's news has given him a boost of confidence. "It is a much more secure feeling knowing you are going on," he admitted. "I know I will be a better driver next year than I was this year."
Bottas, 24, said he is also looking forward to sharing a garage with Massa. "Felipe has so much experience, and don't forget how fast he is," he said. "He was almost the world champion (in 2008), and in the last races he has been comparing very well against Fernando Alonso. With the big rule changes, experience can be a big help," Bottas continued. "He has driven a number of different cars and for sure he has seen a variety of problems. I think it's a very good thing for us," he added. (GMM)
Bottas knew about new Williams deal for some time
- Published on 12 Nov 2013 16:12
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
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Grand Prix
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Spain
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
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Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
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Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 631
- Podiums 9
- Grand Prix 204
- Country ES
- Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (45)
- Place of b. Oviedo, ES
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.71 m
- 188,072 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Fernando Alonso
Team profile
- Team name Williams
- Base Grove, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
- Jacques Villeneuve 1
- Logan Sargeant 2
- Ayrton Senna 2
- Jacques Villeneuve 3
- Nicholas Latifi 6
- Jacques Villeneuve 6
- Nico Rosberg 7
- Nico Hülkenberg 10
- Nico Rosberg 10
- Jenson Button 10
- Pastor Maldonado 12
- Pastor Maldonado 16
- Nico Rosberg 16
- Nico Rosberg 16
- Valtteri Bottas 17
- Lance Stroll 18
- Pastor Maldonado 18
- Felipe Massa 19
- Alexander Albon 23
- Sergey Sirotkin 35
- Nyck de Vries 45
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- Robert Kubica 88
- 161,828 comments on Williams
- 39 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Williams
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