Bottas not worried by de Vries links to Mercedes as reserve driver

Valtteri Bottas has maintained Toto Wolff’s suggestions that both of Mercedes’ Formula E drivers deserve F1 seats are “not really my concern”.

The Finn is out of contract with Mercedes at the end of the current season with Williams driver George Russell heavily linked with a move to the Silver Arrows as his replacement.

Mercedes currently races in all-electric championship Formula E with former F2 champion Nyck de Vries and former McLaren F1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne its drivers.

Team principal Wolff was recently quoted as saying: “Both drivers have the talent and the work ethic and the intelligence to be in Formula 1.

“They both deserve to be Formula 1 and I would very much hope they can find their way back.”

Should Russell complete a move to Mercedes, de Vries has been linked with the Williams seat the Briton would leave vacant which would rule out a straight swap with Bottas.

When asked for his thoughts on Wolff’s comments Bottas said: “I am not aware of those sayings.

“I don’t really read F1 related media reports so it is the first time I hear anything like that.

“Of course, you will always try to praise your drivers, whether it is in different categories and they are very good drivers.

“There are not many seats in F1 but it is not really my concern at the moment and is nothing that is on my mind.”