Key sponsor follows Bottas to Mercedes

© XPB 

One of Valtteri Bottas' personal sponsors is to follow the Finn as he moves from Williams to Mercedes in time for the 2017 Formula One world championship.

Finnish industrial conglomerate Wirhuri was a prominent brand on last year's Williams, but it was confirmed on Friday that the company has now agreed a new team partnership deal with Mercedes with immediate effect.

As a result of the new deal, Wihuri branding will feature on driver racesuits and helmets of both Bottas and his new team mate Lewis Hamilton, as well as on the team's trackside uniform.

"We are delighted to welcome Wihuri to the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport family today," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. "As a respected brand both in Finland and globally, Wihuri will be a valuable addition to our team and we look forward to working with them and helping to expand their Formula One experience.

The Wihuri Group has been involved in Formula One for a number of years and in motorsport sponsorship from the 1970s. Based in Helsinki, Finland, the Group employs over 5000 people and operates in 30 countries, specialising in packaging, daily goods wholesale, technical trade and aviation.

"This year will be a new challenge for our team, with a new driver line-up, including our new Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas of course, and new regulations," Wolff continued. "I am sure it going to be a very exciting year to be involved with our team and the sport of Formula One."

"We have been supporting Valtteri Bottas for several years now and it's great to see him get the chance to show what he can do at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport," added Juha Hellgren, Wihuri's President and Chief Executive Officer.

"He has a real chance to compete for the Formula One World Championship and I am confident that our partnership with the Mercedes team will be a success story for both sides.

"We are really looking forward to the success of both Valtteri and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in 2017."

GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends

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