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Breaking news

Retaining Bottas "almost a no-brainer," says Wolff

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says the decision to extend the contract of Valtteri Bottas is "almost a no-brainer", but the Austrian insists that there is no rush to get a deal done.

 Podium: second place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1
 Second place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1
 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W08, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 W08
Podium:  Race winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1, takes a photo of Second place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-Benz F1 W08
 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 W08

Wolff made it clear that the length of the contract will be one of the main considerations, as the team in effect tries to second guess the longer term intentions of Lewis Hamilton.

His win in Austria and charges through the field to second in both Baku and Britain have put Bottas into the title fight, and confirmed that he was the ideal replacement for Nico Rosberg. 

However, nothing is expected to be agreed before the summer break.

When asked if re-signing Bottas was a no-brainer, Wolff said: "He's almost a no-brainer. I would just like to get the puzzle together, and it's not only about 2018, but there is logic.

"I think it's about looking forward and what happens in '19 and '20, the risk and opportunities, and that's why after Budapest, and hopefully a good race again, I'm going to contemplate on a beach about what's right and wrong for the team."

Bottas, meanwhile, insisted there had been no discussions about his future.

"First we need to really speak about it before doing any announcement or making contracts," said the Finn.

"We are coming to the point that we are getting to the middle of the season. The August break will be there soon, so normally discussions will start.

"We're not going to hear anything for the next few weeks for sure. Like I said before, for me the main target is to have a long relationship with the team, that is what I want.

"We'll still have to wait a few more weeks and see how things go."

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