Bottas: I've decided I'm going to beat everyone this year

Valtteri Bottas says he is determined to beat all of his competitors this year after a difficult 2018 season.

Bottas ended last year's campaign in fifth place, and was the only driver out of the top six to not win a Grand Prix. 

At winter testing, the Finn said that he is working on getting the better of five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, learning where his teammate's strengths lie.  

However, Bottas spent time away from F1 over the winter break, saying: "I got to Finland, got properly smashed a few times, did anything I wanted to do basically.

"Then I got a camera, I started photographing, it’s like a new hobby now so sometimes went for a walk somewhere and took pictures.

"I also travelled with my wife and some friends to South America, just for a proper holiday, didn’t think about Formula 1. When I came back I decided that I’m going to beat everyone this year."

When questioned on if he thinks he can win the world championship this year, he replied: "Yes, that is my aim and I feel I can do it. That’s the goal but how to get there, that’s going to be hard work.

"I feel it’s a nice fresh start. I’ve learned that the first half of the season is always very important.

"I started the year pretty well, just sometimes lost some points because of different things. I’m ready to go for it and try to be a better me."