Mercedes group boss Toto Wolff has confirmed Valtteri Bottas will stay on the group in 2021 and defined his radio message to the Finnish driver throughout qualifying is a part of a brand new type of communication between the 2.

Wolff opened his group radio forward of Bottas’ closing lap in qualifying to inform his driver, “give all of it you’ve, Valtteri”. Bottas went on to qualify second behind Max Verstappen, beating teammate Lewis Hamilton by 0.05s

The Finnish driver has come beneath strain previously week after he was outperformed by Hamilton’s substitute on the Sakhir Grand Prix, George Russell.

The Mercedes group boss defined that talks this week together with his driver had led to a Bottas requesting extra demonstrations of help from Wolff sooner or later.

“It is tough as a result of I’ve by no means talked to the drivers as a result of I’ve felt from my expertise [as a driver] that it is a bit distracting however everyone is totally different,” Wolff stated. “With him, we had a great speak, and, clearly when the championship was misplaced [to Hamilton] it is all the time tough to deal with that, and that is why he stated ‘let’s speak slightly bit extra’

“Each driver is totally different and we’ve got strict intercom protocols that we observe and I keep in mind once I was a racing driver I used to be aggravated by the fellows who lean over into the cockpit and shake my hand earlier than I received going. In that respect, I’ll all the time — and the group will all the time — regulate to the motive force’s modus operandi.

“That is why I’ve by no means been on the radio except we’ve got a important scenario within the race.

“What I mentioned with Valtteri is how we might enhance our communication and he stated he wished a extra open dialogue and communication, even whereas being within the automotive, as one thing he wish to entertain. I stated, ‘are you positive?’ as a result of I do not wish to intervene together with his driving of the automotive, and he stated, ‘no, I am up for it and I have been fascinated about it for some time’.”

Requested in regards to the radio message, Bottas added: “He can all the time speak to us if he desires. Within the final days we had a chat about various things.

“You already know, we’re a group, we help one another, as we really feel like. In the event you can help one other particular person within the group with encouragement or sure phrases you do it and I might do the identical for any group member. Nothing greater than that, I believe it is extra of a private factor.”

Russell’s sturdy efficiency as Hamilton’s substitute on the Sakhir Grand Prix led to solutions that the 22-year-old might substitute Bottas as early subsequent 12 months.

Nevertheless, Wolff confirmed that the contract Bottas signed for 2021 in August stays in place for subsequent season.

“He will be in our automotive [in 2021], I’m hereby confirming it,” Wolff stated. “Now we have a contract with Valtteri and he’s going to race for us subsequent 12 months.

“It’s essential to kick me fairly laborious in a delicate zone for me to ever lose my loyalty. I’m loyal to my two race drivers in the identical approach I’m loyal to our junior drivers.

“George did an outstanding job final weekend and he deserves to be in an awesome automotive sooner or later. He has a contract with Williams for another 12 months they usually have been very versatile and accommodating in giving George to Mercedes this different weekend.

“All the things goes to go its approach, however calmly and in a structured approach.”