"In the balance also in 2020. After a while it hurts the c ** o"

However, the Finnish driver secured the second absolute position and the title of vice-champion, even though he was already a safe condition for a few weeks due to the great distance between Ferrari and Red Bull drivers.

Bottas was the protagonist of another good season, which helped Mercedes take home the sixth consecutive world title Constructors. Yet even this year it has had to deal with a surplus of pressure due to the type of contract that for years now stands for F1, or annual renewals.

"At one point in the season there was a lot of uncertainty about my 2020. There were so many voices. I had no idea what was going on. I just had to wait. As an athlete, as a pilot, it's not the ideal situation", the Mercedes driver admitted.

"You cannot have your mind completely free and concentrate on your work. You cannot feel mentally free and in the right way to do things well. It is difficult. When this continues from year to year, every single year of your career, to at one point it becomes a pain in the ass ".

In 2020, Bottas will face the same situation in recent years, so start the next season knowing that it must win the renewal that will certainly be a season in view of 2021, the year of great changes at the regulatory level – technical and sports – but in pilots market perspective.

"It is very nice to have a signed contract. But for me it will be the same story again next season. I'm not too worried at this point because my pace is good, I like driving, I like working with the team and I hope that they in turn appreciate what I do ".

Speaking of 2021, Wolff confirms what was reported above: "In 2021, no driver will be under contract with any team. It will be really super exciting and I imagine that the domino pilots for that season will start very soon. All ports will be wide open for any option" .

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1

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Photo by: Mercedes AMG

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1, runner-up, and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1, first place, on the podium

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Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1, first classified, drinks Champagne on the podium

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Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1, first place, pours Champagne on the head of Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1, second classified, on the podium

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Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1

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Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1

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Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1, celebrates the world title victory with race winner Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1, team and actor Matthew McConaughey

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Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Toto Wolff, James Allison, Lewis Hamilton, Andy Cowell, Mercedes AMG F1

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Photo by: Mercedes AMG

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10

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Photo by: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10, and Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15

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Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W10, precedes Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10

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Photo by: Andrew Hone / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1, 1st place, arrives on the podium

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Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

World Champion Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1, race winner Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 and James Allison, technical director, Mercedes AMG, celebrate on the podium

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Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

World Champion Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1, race winner Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 and James Allison, technical director, Mercedes AMG, celebrate on the podium

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Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

The winner of the race Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1

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Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1

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Photo by: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10

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Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10

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Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10

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Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10

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Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10

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Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10

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Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Mario Andretti delivers the Pirelli pole position award to Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG

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Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Mario Andretti delivers the Pirelli pole position award to Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG

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Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1, celebrates with Toto Wolff, executive director, Mercedes AMG, after winning the Pole Position

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Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images