Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton defended Valtteri Bottas as an ‘amazing teammate’ on Thursday after the Finn faced questions about his future at Mercedes and the possibility of being replaced mid-season.

Bottas is already 37 points behind championship leader Hamilton after three races, and fourth overall in the drivers’ standings.

The Daily Mail this week quoted an anonymous Mercedes engineer saying there was “some unrest” at the factory and suggested Bottas could be replaced by Mercedes-backed Williams driver George Russell.

“I feel like we have the best line-up currently, in terms of the equilibrium that’s within our team,” Hamilton told reporters at the Spanish Grand Prix.

“At some stage it’s going to change, I’m not going to be here forever, Valtteri won’t be here forever but right now I think he’s delivered time and time again over the years and he continues to.

“Valtteri qualified on pole last race. It’s only the fourth race (this weekend). I think people need to give him a break and just let him focus on doing what he’s doing.”

Bottas had earlier given short shrift to the speculation, with an additional dig at rivals Red Bull who have switched drivers repeatedly.

“I know that I’m not going to be replaced in the middle of the season,” he said.

“As a team, we don’t do that. I have a contract for this year and I think there’s only one team that does that kind of thing in F1 and we’re not that (team).

“So no pressure from my side and I know how things are. There’s always bullshit around, that’s part of the sport.”

Asked whether he expected to be at Mercedes next year, Bottas replied:“I don’t know. It’s early days. I haven’t thought about it really.

“At the moment I don’t care. I’m just focusing on this year.”