Bottas admits to eyeing Mercedes seat

Apr.25 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has admitted he would not say no if a seat opened up for him at the works Mercedes team.

The Finn has driven throughout his four-season F1 career for Williams, but last year he was strongly linked with a potential move to Ferrari.

Now, the 26-year-old could once again play a role in the 2017 'silly season', with Nico Rosberg's plum seat at Mercedes also up for renewal.

Asked whether Mercedes or Ferrari is fastest so far this year, Bottas told the Finnish broadcaster MTV: "In my opinion Mercedes are faster at the moment."

Asked if he would like to go there, Bottas - who is managed by the Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff - admitted: "Well, who wouldn't want to? At the moment that's the fastest car."

Bottas' first goal, however, must be to at least out-perform his current Williams teammate Felipe Massa, who so far in 2016 has scored 22 points versus Bottas' 7.

"I have to prove that I deserve top spot in the team," he acknowledged.

"In the first three races I didn't do that, but I'm not worried about anything. There is still a long season and plenty of time to shine and show my skills."

There are those, however, who think Bottas is in fact not among the very elite top drivers in F1, but Bottas answered back: "If you don't believe in yourself, then who else will?"