Mercedes Formula 1 racer Valtteri Bottas gave his approval to the new driver introductions trialed at last weekend's United States Grand Prix, believing the sport is heading in a more relaxed direction under Liberty Media.

Normally considered the more reserved of Mercedes' 2017 drivers with Lewis Hamilton for a teammate, Bottas said he enjoyed the "wrestling style" introductions by legendary boxing announcer Michael Buffer in the lead-up to lights out.

"I liked the thing in Austin before the race," Bottas said.

"Of course for us it was a bit of an extra thing to do before the race and a bit more busy than normal, less time to focus on our performance with the engineers and so on, but if people like it then it’s good.

"I kind of like the direction things have been taking within Formula 1 now. It’s a bit more relaxed."

The former Williams driver has previously finished a best of fourth in the drivers' championship in 2014, and has already outscored his points haul that year with 244 points so far in 2017 as opposed to 186 three years ago.

Now fighting for second place with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, he looks best-ever finish in the title this year despite a recent dip in form, and has already helped Mercedes win the constructors' championship.

Asked about his relationship with outgoing championship leader Lewis Hamilton, he said that it had been a constructive atmosphere.

"Personally I think it is important to have a good relationship with your team-mate so that you can work well as team and you don’t need to hide anything within the team," Bottas said.

"You have two cars and two drivers producing data and producing points that can be improved. Obviously it is always better the closer the team-mates are, you can always pick things up here and there. Also everyone is having more fun when the spirit is good.

"Obviously I’ve no idea how it has been before with the team, I only joined in January, but since January everything has been very good.

"To work as two team-mates together I think just pushing the team forward together will bring results in the long term.”