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Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he is interested in seeing how well his new team mate Valtteri Bottas will fit in at Mercedes. Bottas joins the Silver Arrows on a one year deal, replacing the retired Nico Rosberg.
As Mercedes are favourites for both titles once again, Hamilton is hoping that Bottas can adapt quickly and bring home points to help the team win a fourth straight constructors championship.
"It doesn’t matter who they are or where they come from, I know where I come from and I’m there to win," Hamilton said. "So my goal remains exactly the same and really with a new team-mate you hope they blend in, you hope they’re a positive guy for the team.
"There’s over a thousand people in our team so it’s not just about me, it’s not just about him or her. For example I’ve had years where I’ve put in good results but my team-mate hasn’t and we should have won the [constructors'] championship, but all those guys [at the factory] didn’t win the world championship because the other wasn’t able to back me up."
Hamilton is expecting a much different relationship with Bottas than he had with former team mate Rosberg, as the two had a tense three year relationship while fighting for the world championship.
"It’s interesting to see how it’s going to go, how quick he’ll be, how quick he adapts, how he deals with pressure, all those little things," added Hamilton.
"I always say the most fascinating thing is the mind of my competitors. The limits they will go to to win. Some people would sell their mum to win a race (laughs), some would sell their soul and other things. It’s interesting to see where Valtteri will go.
"It’s going to be good, Finnish people are usually lovely, lovely people and very calm and very relaxed. He’s got lots of positives coming with him just being a Finn."
Fergal Walsh
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Kenju
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"It’s going to be good, Finnish people are usually lovely, lovely people and very calm and very relaxed. He’s got lots of positives coming with him just being a Finn."
Generalizing based on ethnicity --> racist.