Bottas wants clarity on Mercedes future by August break

Valtteri Bottas aims to have his future in F1 sorted by the start of the sport's summer break in early August.

Paddock pundits have been polishing their crystal ball and predicting multiple scenarios involving the Mercedes driver whom many believe will be replaced by Williams' George Russell for 2022.

Others are forecasting a status quo at Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton eager to keep the Finn on the other side of the Mercedes garage in 2022 and preserve the Brackley squad's stability.

Regardless of how events will pan out for Bottas, the nine-time Grand Prix winner will be seeking to have a clear view of his future by early August.

"It's always better earlier," he said in Monaco on Wednesday. "I've had contracts early and I've had contracts too late that it almost causes a distraction," he said.

"But to be honest, I haven't really thought about it yet, and that's an honest answer.

"I'm just focussing on these races now and that moment when we start to talk it will come eventually."

• Read also: Bottas not too keen on salary cap for drivers

While Hamilton has already racked up three wins in four races this season, Bottas has yet to stand on the highest step of the podium.

An August deadline would leave the 31-year-old seven races to convince Mercedes to retain his services for a sixth year.

"For my future, I think the August break is normally the deadline," he said.

"But I don't want to think about it yet, I just want to win the race. So that's the only thing on my mind at the moment."

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