Bottas has no reason to leave Williams - Wolff

  • Published on 13 Aug 2015 16:57
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Toto Wolff has played down reports Valtteri Bottas is still in the running for a Ferrari race seat. In recent weeks, the young Finn appeared a shoo-in to replace his older countryman Kimi Raikkonen at the fabled Italian team. But Raikkonen has enjoyed a spike in form, just as Ferrari reportedly ruled out paying the multiple millions demanded by Williams for Bottas' 2016 deal.

Wolff - although Mercedes chief - remains part of Bottas' management team, but he insists that these days he is little more than "an investor" in his career. "He is a good guy who would be tempting to many people," the Austrian told Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday. "But Williams is the third force in the championship, they aspire to be on the podium at every race and I don't think there is a reason to leave," Wolff added.

But could that only be because Williams is demanding from Ferrari such a huge amount of money for Bottas' release? "I think that's legitimate," answered Wolff, "considering that Williams assumed the risk of taking him on when he was young and could not yet show his value."

More pressing on Wolff's mind in the coming days will be the form of the team he runs, Mercedes, even though it seems to be cruising to the title. Or is it? Sebastian Vettel entered the summer break with another win for Ferrari, leaving Mercedes obviously needing to improve its race starts just as the FIA's clampdown takes effect.

Asked if he is worried about the rules clampdown just as Mercedes was faltering on its fully automated race starts, Wolff insisted: "No, because our team is able to react very quickly to changing regulations. "In general I agree with this decision in the sense that it is right that the starts are back into the hands of the drivers," he said.

As for the threat posed by Ferrari, Wolff insists it is real. "The possibility of us losing this title is low," he conceded, "but still we are aware that it could happen and so we keep our feet planted on the ground." To that end, Mercedes is now poised to finally spend some of its in-season engine development 'tokens'.

"We will decide next week," said Wolff, "considering the tests we do on the bench and the reliability we can achieve. If not in Belgium, then it will be in Monza." (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Finland
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Nastola, Finland
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar