Valtteri Bottas says 'there's no rush' on securing a Mercedes Formula 1 contract for 2018 but is keen to remai𒁏n 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🧸🐽 his future but is solely focused on remaining at the defending world champions.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff sparked speculation during the build-up to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix𒅌 by accepting his driver is in a 'uncomfortable situation' currently but isn't prepared to be hasty with a new dea🎉l.

Bottas has repeated the no rush attitude like his team boss, and former manager, but says a flexible timeframe is in place to confirm ꦍhis 2018 plans.

In recent seasons,🍬 Mercedes have confirmed he driver deals leading into the summer break - as was the case for Rosberg 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, there'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 ꦐdays and for sure I'm ke♈en to have a long-term relationship with Mercedes. Every day I work hard to make the most out of every single situation I'm in.

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

Bottas currently sits third in the F1 world drivers' ওchampionship and claimed his maiden Grand Prix 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).