Valtteri Bottas hints Williams future now secure

Valtteri Bottas of Williams during previews ahead of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit on March 31, 2016
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Valtteri Bottas hints that his future in F1 is now settled, even though Williams is yet to officially announce it.

Valtteri Bottas has hinted that his future in Formula 1 is now settled, even though Williams are yet to officially announce it.

It is now almost an open paddock secret that the British team will line up next year with the Finn alongside rookie Lance Stroll, the newly-crowned European F3 champion.

Spain's El Mundo Deportivo newspaper claims that Bottas has pushed for his extended contract to include a clause allowing him to leave in the event that Mercedes, Red Bull or Ferrari want to sign him.

When asked about his future at Sepang, Bottas told Finnish television broadcaster MTV: "Maybe I know what I'm doing, maybe I don't.

"In any case, the time is getting closer."

When asked if he doesn't know or simply can't tell, the 27-year-old admitted: "I don't want to say. I hope that soon, everything will be 100% ready."

Bottas was also asked about reports that, following a recent seat belt incident, Williams are testing the product of another manufacturer at Suzuka.

"We are testing it in practice," he said. "That's all I can say. Then we will decide what to do in the future."

Bottas has picked up 80 points for Williams this year.

Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP leads Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP into the first corner during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on May 10, 2015
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