Valtteri Botta🐽s is not concerned by recent speculation he could lose his Mercedes Formula 1 seat to Daniel Ricciardo for 2019, saying such ruꦰmours are “nothing new” and that he is instead focusing on his own on-track performances.

Ricciardo’s victory in China two weeks ago resulted in renewed speculation about his future beyond the end of the🦂 season when his exis🎃ting deal with Red Bull will expire.

The Australian has been linked with drives at both Mercedes and Ferrari for 2019, but🔥 denied holding talks with any team except Red Bull earlier on T🔴hursday.

With four-time world champion Lewis Hamilton widely expected to put pen to paper on a new Mercedes contract in the coming months, it is Bottas who would make way for Ricciardo were he ✤to join the German manufacturer.

However, Bottas is unmoved by suggestions he could lose his seat, saying he grew accustom to the specula꧋ti🌟on last year.

“It’s ♓normal. I was used to it last year, the same this year,” Bottas said.

"It’s nothing new for me. I am 100 percent 𓄧happy to just focus on myself, performing well.

“If ꧙I k🌌eep performing like the last couple of races, I see no issues.”

Mercedes heads into this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix aiming to 🎃end its longest winless run since 2013, having lost𝕴 out in each of the first three races of the new season.

Ferrari won theꦍ first two races in Australia and Bahrain, while Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo took victor♈y in China two weeks ago, with Bottas finishing on the podium twice in that run.

“The competition is re🐼ally tough. It’s these three teams battling for the wiಌns as we were expecting after winter testing so that’s the situation,” Bottas said.

“It’s all about 🍌fine details and getting every✱thing right in the races. I think we’ve had a car in the first three races that could have won the race, performance wise but there’s always something happening.

“In Bahrain, we got very close to the win. I think also in China, without different𒈔 situations and safety cars so the speed we have is extremely close with Ferrari and Red Bull.

“We just need to keep it to🎐gether and try and release more performance. I am sure it will come.”