Bottas thinks it's "definitively possible" to match Hamilton

  • Published on 11 Apr 2017 10:17
  • comments 1
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Valtteri Bottas thinks he is close to matching the pace of team mate Lewis Hamilton on pure pace, despite enduring a disappointing Chinese Grand Prix which saw him finish in sixth.

Bottas spun twice under the safety car, first while trying to warm his tyres and the second time when he attempted to recover from the first spin. The Finn has been out-qualified by Hamilton in both of the opening two rounds, but missed out on joining his team mate on the front row in Shanghai by 0.001s.

Hamilton is Bottas' third team mate, after Pastor Maldonado and Felipe Massa, and says that the Brit is the fastest team mate he's ever had, but that was something he expected.

“He's [Hamilton] definitively the quickest team mate I've had so far, but that was pretty much expected. He's a three times World Champion and many, many times a race winner, so I was always expecting that. But what I'm seeing is that it's definitively possible for me to match him. 

“I know that I am very close now, I will improve and we're going to have some very good fights together in the future.

“I'm sure of that but that's not something I'm focusing on, at the moment it's about getting good points for the team and going step by step. Like I said, I feel better and better in the car and the results and the good qualifying will come.” 

 

Fergal Walsh
 

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • I hope so, he may need to do it quickly!

    • + 0
    • Apr 11 2017 - 10:45

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 09:57

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 09:57

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 1,608
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 209
  • Country Finland
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (35)
  • Place of b. Nastola, Finland
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile
show sidebar