Williams hints at Valtteri Bottas stay

Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams has hinted that her team will retain Valtteri Bottas.

The team has an option to retain the Finn's services for next year, but is understood to be considering Jenson Button and Sergio Perez.

But speaking to Autosport, Williams hinted that the team were looking to keep hold of Bottas.

"We've seen a very different Valtteri this year, an even better version of himself," she said. "I knew him when he was our development driver and you can see the trajectory has gone upward and I don't think he has stopped going up."

"He still has a huge amount to prove and I hope we can one day give him the race car to prove that he is a championship-worthy racing driver."

Last season Bottas was linked with a move to Ferrari to replace compatriot Kimi Raikkonen but the Italian team ultimately opted to retain the 2007 world champion. Williams said that the rumours distracted Bottas, but has been able to put them behind his this year.

"Valtteri has improved and improved," she said. "He has really matured into a driver that can build a team around him and galvanise people."

"We saw he lost a bit of that focus last year with the Ferrari rumours, but he has reset."

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  • Team McLaren
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  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 19 1980 (46)
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  • Weight 72 kg
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