Bottas and Massa say talks over 2017 plans nearing conclusions
Monday 29 August 2016 10:42, UK
Valtteri Bottas is confident he will have a "good solution" in place for 2017 while Williams team-mate Felipe Massa also expects his F1 future to be resolved soon.
A number of teams are gearing up to decide their driver line-ups for next season in the next month and Williams are among those yet to fill either seat.
Bottas and Massa have formed the Grove team's line-up since 2014 but Williams are expected to change at least one of them for next season, with Jenson Button, Sergio Perez and Canadian youngster Lance Stroll all rumoured to be alternative options.
Williams are thought to retain an option on Bottas, whose links with the team date back to 2010, and the Finn is happy with how his 2017 plans are progressing.
"It's not done yet, but I'm confident we will find a good solution," said Bottas, who is also thought to be under consideration at Renault.
"There are ongoing talks. Hopefully during September everything should be fixed one way or another.
"But I feel like I'm in a good position at the moment. We still need to wait and see what's going to happen, whether we stay here or not."
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Massa, however, appears likely to leave Williams at the end of the current campaign with the 35-year-old's F1 future increasingly uncertain.
The Brazilian has been linked with moves into other categories and made clear "I'm not planning to be further down the grid" wherever he races.
"For sure things are moving," said Massa. "I hope in the short time we have some news."
