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Toto Wolff plays down threat to Valtteri Bottas's Formula 1 future

Toto Wolff plays down the uncertainty surrounding Valtteri Bottas's future on the F1 grid.

Toto Wolff has played down the uncertainty surrounding Valtteri Bottas's future on the F1 grid.

According to rumours, Williams are considering a full shake-up of their current driver lineup for 2017, with development driver Lance Stroll's billionaire father said to have put together £20m in backing and Jenson Button currently the other favourite.

"I hope that he's in Formula 1 next year," technical director Pat Symonds said in Hungary, "whether it be with Williams or elsewhere."

Finn Bottas also admitted to uncertainty, saying that his outlook for 2017 "is still open at this point".

The 26-year-old's career is co-managed by Didier Coton, Mika Hakkinen as well as Wolff, who is also Mercedes's team boss.

Wolff told Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat in Hungary: "Valtteri is an integral part of the Williams team at this time.

"It is about team stability there, as it is with [Mercedes]. No Finns have to be concerned about Valtteri's future."

Bottas enters today's Hungarian Grand Prix in seventh place in the drivers' rankings.

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Valtteri Bottas of Williams in the paddock during previews ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix of Russia at Sochi Autodrom on April 28, 2016
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