Valtteri Bottas says 'there's no ꦿrush' on securing a Mercedes Formula 1 contract for 2018 but is keen to remain at༒ the Brackley squad.

The Finnish driver, who stepped in as Nico Rosberg's replacement after his shock retirement just days after clinching the 2016 F1 world title, is yet to confirm h꧙is future but is solely focused on remaining at the defending world champions.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff sparked spec🐠ulation during the build-up to the Az📖erbaijan Grand Prix by accepting his driver is in a 'uncomfortable situation' currently but isn't prepared to be hasty with a new deal.

Bottas has repeated the no rush attitude like his team boss, and former manager, but says a fl🌜exible timeframe is in place to confirꦓm his 2018 plans.

In recent seasons, Mercedes have confirmed he driver deals leading into the summer breܫak - as was the case for Ros𓄧berg last year before his shock departure - and Bottas is remaining cool over his future at the team.

"I don't know when I will know. The time line is quite flexible, but, like I said, tওhere's no rush," Bottas said. "The discussions will be open soon, because as a driver, at some point, it's always nice to know what you're going to do next year.

"But it's still early days and for sure I'm keen to have a long-term relationship with Mercedes. Every day I work hard to make the most out of𓆏 every s🌠ingle situation I'm in.

"I feel normal, because every single year I've been in Formula One I was in the sa🌸me situation at this time of the year, as I had no idea, at this point, what I was going to do the following yeꦿar. So, for me, it's a normal situation."

Bottas currently sits third in the F1 world drivers' championship and claimed hiꦐs maiden Grand Pr💙ix win with a dominant performance in Russia. The Finnish driver has also claimed one pole position (Bahrain) and three additional rostrums along with one DNF (Spain).