Bottas not planning Hamilton 'mind games'

  • Published on 01 Mar 2018 10:07
  • comments 5
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Valtteri Bottas says he will focus on his driving rather than "psychological games" in order to beat Lewis Hamilton in 2018. The Finn joined Mercedes at the eleventh hour prior to last season, and although he secured a new deal for 2018, Bottas was clearly outpaced by champion Hamilton.

Now, his quest is to secure yet another new deal, for 2019: "Mercedes has been the best team for years now," Bottas said in Barcelona. "Everyone wants my cockpit. I just have to make the most of every opportunity."

Team boss Toto Wolff has said he will not start to think about the occupant of the second car for 2019 until the summer, but Bottas said he is confident he can stake a claim: "Last year, sometimes I had to drive setups that were not to my liking," he said.

"This year it's different and hopefully it will be easier for me to drive it. I've been able to get involved in the development of the new car and I know the team very well. That's why my goal is clear. I want to drive on a higher level, I want to have a say in the victory at every grand prix, I want to be world champion," Bottas added.

He acknowledges that it will involve going "wheel to wheel" with quadruple world champion Hamilton more often, just as Nico Rosberg had to do in 2016. But Bottas insisted: "I do not have to change my approach in that way.

"I'm not a fan of psychological games. It's not my style. I do not want to pay much attention to what Lewis is doing and what his weaknesses may be. I want to focus on myself.  And if I achieve everything that I expect from my myself, I will be strong."

You were hired to be a backup driver, a #2 for Lewis, don't get ideas above your station Bottas, Merc won't allow it.

  • 2
  • Mar 1 2018 - 11:19

Replies (5)

Login to reply
  • You were hired to be a backup driver, a #2 for Lewis, don't get ideas above your station Bottas, Merc won't allow it.

    • + 2
    • Mar 1 2018 - 11:19
  • xoya

    Posts: 583

    Is he even allowed to think about it?

    • + 2
    • Mar 1 2018 - 11:54
  • Neither did Rosberg... Until he (sorta did).

    • + 0
    • Mar 1 2018 - 12:20
  • boudy

    Posts: 1,168

    The amount of first lap incidents caused by bottas was high however he never got a penalty. His focus should be to keep it on the road without taking other drivers out. Mind games you only get in when you are close to him and he's not at Hamilton level. To be honest I feel that the level of protection extended to the Mercedes and Ferrari drivers over others is ridiculous. Looking forward to more consistency of the stewards next year but I won't hold by breath.

    • + 0
    • Mar 1 2018 - 22:05
    • A good point, actually. One could argue that it was racing incidents, but nevertheless he was at the very least involved in them. And I agree that he needs to step it up.

      • + 0
      • Mar 2 2018 - 15:41

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Sauber
  • Points 1,608
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 188
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Nastola, FI
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar