A claimed that Bottas could be dropped and replaced by Mercedes juni💮or𓄧 George Russell before the end of the season.

After turning in several impressive displays for Williams this year, Russell is hoping to l🌌and a seat with the reigning world champions for 2022 with both his and Bottas’ contrꦿacts due to expire at the end of the season.

But following a difficult sta💦rt to the 2021 F1 season that has see🔴n Bottas already drop 37 points behind teammate Lewis Hamilton in the championship after just three races, it has been suggested that the Finn could be relieved of his duties early.

Speaking in the drivers' press conference ahead of this weekend's Spanish Gra🃏nd Prix, Bottas insisted he will not be replaced and even t🌠ook a swipe at Red Bull for how it handles its drivers.

“I know that I’m not going to be replaced in the midd⛄le of the season,” said Bottas. “As a team, we don’t d🎐o that.

“I have a contract for this yꦚear and I believe there’s only one team that does that kin🔴d of thing in F1 and we’re not that.

“So [there’s] no pressure from my side. I 🌼know how things are and there’s always bullshit around. That’s part of the sp🅷ort.”

Asked if he thinks he will still be at Mercedes next year, Bottas replied: "I don’t know it at this poi🅺nt, it’s early days – I haven’t thought about next year, really.

"As I said earlier, my full focus is on this year and now, because that’s all that matters and normally that will bring a good future. I’ve no idea and at the moment I don’t care I justꦜ want to focus on this year and pu🌜tting every single thought and every bit of energy I have into that."

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said he was confident Bottas would rediscover his best form soon after bouncing back from a disastrous race in Im♏ola to take pole and a third-place finish in Portugal.

"🎐He's put it on pole, and had a very 🐬solid race, he led," Wolff said.

"It's clear൩ when you are in the front and just kicking a hole in the air, and the car behind you has DRS, that's very difficult.

"At🤡 that moment, Lewis opened up a bit of a gap, and was gone. But he con💟trolled Max well.

"We lost the ♚undercu♑t, that was unfortunate, and then we let him down with the engine, that went into a safety mode.

"So all in all, I think like many times, it could have worked for Valtteri. We were pushing hard and cಌontinue to support him, and next time we'll see what 💟he's capable of doing in Barcelona."