Mercedes confirm Bottas for 2018 Formula One season

Formula One - F1 - Italian Grand Prix 2017 - Monza, Italy - September 1, 2017 Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas ahead of practice REUTERS/Max Rossi

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Formula One world champions Mercedes announced what they said was a 'no-brainer' of a deal on Wednesday by signing Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas for another season alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Bottas joined from Williams in January after Hamilton's previous team mate, Germany's 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, decided to retire within days of winning the title last November.