Valtteri Bottas signs 1-year deal with Mercedes F1 team

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Valtteri Bottas signs 1-year deal with Mercedes F1 team

Jerome Pugmire The Associated Press
Published Wednesday, September 13, 2017 10:50AM EDT

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland takes a curve followed by Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany during the Formula One Russian Grand Prix at the 'Sochi Autodrom' circuit, in Sochi, Russia, Sunday, April. 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

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SINGAPORE -- Valtteri Bottas will race for Mercedes again next year after being given a one-year contract on Wednesday.

The Finnish driver has exceeded expectations after stepping in as an emergency replacement for Nico Rosberg, who retired from Formula One days after winning last year's title.

Despite having only modest results during his time with the Williams team, Bottas has won two races and formed a solid partnership with three-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton.

Bottas is third in the standings and has secured a further seven podium finishes in addition to his victories.

Despite his good form, Mercedes seemed hesitant whether it would keep Bottas next year. Wednesday's announcement means that both drivers will race for Mercedes in 2018.