Valterri Bottas has inched closer to replacing Nico Rosberg at Mercedes after  reportedly visiting the German manufacturer's UK-based factory in Brackley before Christmas.

According to Motorsport.com, Bottas "tried out the cockpit of the 2017-spec Mercedes" car while also meeting the engineers he could be associated with next season.

Mercedes has been looking for a replacement to Rosberg since the 2016 world champion stunned the F1 community by announcing his retirement only a few days after winning the title in Abu Dhabi.

Although Bottas had a Williams contract for 2017, the 27-year-old quickly emerged as the front runner to land the seat.

The Grove-based outfit was initially reluctant to let Bottas go, but it has found a contingency plan in re-signing Felipe Massa, who had retired at the end of the 2016 campaign.

The Brazilian veteran will bring a wealth of experience to both Williams and new rookie team-mate Lance Stroll amid radical regulation changes.

The report adds that Mercedes did contemplate promoting Manor's Pascal Wehrlein but eventually ruled that its 22-year-old protégé was not ready to join a championship-caliber team yet. The former DTM champion has been tipped to find refuge at Sauber alongside Marcus Ericsson.

Mercedes has already said it will not make any official announcement until after the New Year.

Esteban Ocon interview: You're meant to be great when you reach F1

INTERVIEW: Christian Horner on Red Bull rising

TECHNICAL: F1i's review of 2016

2016 driver ratings: 12-1

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

Sprint P4 gives Ricciardo 'a happy feeling, a powerful feeling'

A terrific performance by Daniel Ricciardo in qualifying for the Miami Sprint on Friday was…

2 hours ago

Hamilton: Magnussen honesty on defensive tactics ‘pretty cool’

Lewis Hamilton expressed his appreciation for Kevin Magnussen's candidness in admitting that his highly defensive…

2 hours ago

Alonso: Hamilton 'ruined Miami Sprint for a few people'

Fernando Alonso was in no doubt as to who should have got the blame for…

3 hours ago

Magnussen admits flurry of penalties in Sprint was ‘well deserved’

Kevin Magnussen's aggressive defending against Lewis Hamilton in Saturday’s Miami Grand Prix sprint race resulted…

3 hours ago

Miami GP: Verstappen beats Leclerc in Saturday Sprint

Max Verstappen didn't have the best of starts to Saturday's Sprint race in Miami, but…

4 hours ago

2024 Miami Grand Prix - Sprint Race results

Full results from the Sprint race for the Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome,…

4 hours ago