Valtteri Bottas is "in a better situation than before the summer break"

Valtteri Bottas is grateful for the fact that he has cemented his future and believes that this has let him focus on his driving. The Finn is 65 points behind teammate Lewis Hamilton and will hope to launch an attack on the championship this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix. 

"I would not say that this would change my approach [contract extension], but there is certainly less distraction from that side now," says Bottas prior to the Grand Prix weekend at Monza. "I don't have to think about it anymore and I don't have to make phone calls between races. It gives a soothing feeling when you're working at the races."

“I know that I now have the confidence of the team until next year. That feels good and I can therefore really focus on work. So I am in a better situation than before the summer break."

Bottas will need to keep proving his worth if he is to stay at Mercedes after 2020.