Bottas: "I proved last year that I could beat Hamilton"

Valtteri Bottas wants to believe in his title chances this year after being renewed by Mercedes. The Finn won his first three victories in 2017 by winning in Sochi (Russia), Spielberg (Austria) and Abu Dhabi, but the former resident of Williams failed behind Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) in the Championship, finishing 58 points behind his world champion teammate.

“He is one of the best drivers of all time in F1, a four-time world champion who is still in top form, but I proved a few times last year that I can beat him, recalled Valtteri Bottas on ESPN. It's up to me to be consistent throughout the season, without having these weekends where I find myself a few tenths behind. I have to bring it all together, no matter the circuit, the temperatures or the track surface. »

Valtteri Bottas is all the more confident that the younger sister of the W08 should suit him better, the Finn having arrived at the last minute at Mercedes following the late announcement of Nico Rosberg's retirement.

“With all the developments made with the team on the new car over the winter, it looks like it suits my driving style better. This is for theory, but we will obviously have to verify this. I have to adapt, but I think I have become a more complete driver compared to the start of the season last year“added the Mercedes driver.

The Finn approaches this new year by maintaining the highest objectives, even if performances at the level of Lewis Hamilton would be enough to surprise part of the paddock as the gap was so significant in 2017.

“I think everyone knows my goal. Every driver obviously wants to become world champion, but I am very motivated”, he said.

Valtteri Bottas remains under threat from Mercedes' protégés, starting with Esteban Ocon who returns for a second season with Force India after having produced convincing performances last year.