Bottas plays down Mercedes, Ferrari switch talk

Jan.12 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has played down reports linking his future outside of Williams.

The Finn's career to date has been powered and championed by the Grove team, and he was the star last year as Williams ended 2014 as arguably dominant Mercedes' closest challenger.

But 25-year-old Bottas has also attracted attention elsewhere, as he is now linked with a potential move to Ferrari for 2016.

And mere days ago, his manager Toto Wolff said Bottas would be considered in the event Lewis Hamilton does not stay at Mercedes beyond this season.

Referring to Williams, however, Bottas is quoted by Finland's MTV3: "I trust this team.

"I do not think there will be any serious negotiations this year.

"We have very good people on the technical side, the rules are very similar to last year so if the car is basically good, we can improve it even more," he added.

Meanwhile, Bottas welcomed suggestions F1 could be targeting an improvement of the engine regulations in coming seasons so as to put 1000 horse power at the drivers' disposal.

"From the drivers' point of view," he said, "the more power there is, the better."