F1: Bottas extends Mercedes contract till 2019

Madrid July 20 (IANS) Formula One announced on Friday that Valtteri Bottas had signed a new contract with Mercedes until 2019 with an option for a further year a day after his teammate Lewis Hamilton finalised his two-year deal with the racing team.
The 28-year-old Finn who joined Mercedes in 2017 has a score of three Grand Prix wins and five pole positions reports Efe.
"It is great news that I will be racing for Mercedes in 2019 " Bottas said. "It is nice to announce it here in Hockenheim -- not just the home race for Mercedes but also the circuit where I took my first ever single-seater wins back in 2007."
"I enjoy working with the team and also being teammates with Lewis -- we have a good relationship honest and straightforward and always aiming to get the right results for Mercedes " he added.
Bottas is currently placed fifth in the driver standings 67 points behind leader Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.
"Obviously my goal is to keep performing at a high level - and to make it a no-brainer for the team when it comes to deciding their plans for 2020 as well " he stressed.

--IANS pur/bg