Toto Wolff says "there is no reason" for Valtteri Bottas to leave Williams and join Ferrari next season.
Bottas has been linked with a move to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Maranello, with Ferrari having approached Williams and reportedly agreeing a fee between the teams. Wolff has previously looked after Bottas' career, and while he says he takes a backseat role now he does not believe the Finn should be looking to leave Williams.
"Since I took over the reins of the Mercedes team I left other activities to other people," Wolff told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "So at this time I am only an 'investor' in Bottas. He is a good guy who can be tempting to many, but Williams is the third force in the league, aspires to go to the podium at every race and there is no reason to leave."
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With Williams having an option to extend Bottas' contract in to next year – which caused Ferrari to make an offer for his services – Wolff says his former team is well within its rights to seek significant compensation.
"I find it legitimate to consider that Williams has assumed the risk of taking [Bottas] when he was young and had not yet shown his value. Now the financial effort may be covered by selling him to other teams."
