3
Toto Wolff has urged second Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas to become more of an F1 "killer". After winning his fourth world championship, Lewis Hamilton is being hailed by his Mercedes chiefs. "It's been rock and roll with Lewis all year round," team boss Wolff is quoted by Dutch source Formule 1.
To La Gazzetta dello Sport, team chairman Niki Lauda agrees: "Our car was not the best this year. In the last three years, our advantage would even have made me world champion. But with the strong Ferrari this year it must be said that Lewis gave us the title and not the other way around," he added.
As for Bottas, the Finn's first season with Mercedes has been up and down. He had a solid start to 2017, but then entered a clear and admitted trough. "Valtteri has since slowly but surely recovered," Wolff insists. "But he still needs to be more of a killer."
He is almost certainly referring to Brazil, where despite starting from pole Bottas was passed at the start by Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel. Lauda said little except to insist that Bottas "deserved second place" last Sunday, while Jacques Villeneuve said almost being caught in the race by Hamilton - who started last - was "embarrassing" for the 28-year-old.
However, Wolff defended Bottas. "When Ferrari turned up the engine power at the end, you could see there was little difference between the cars," he said.
And Bottas said: "I am very disappointed. I lost it at the start. After that it was very close with them and I tried to put pressure on Sebastian but it didn't lead to anything. Obviously it's not good for me in the battle for second place in the championship. He's got quite a good lead now so we need some miracles in Abu Dhabi," he admitted. (GMM)
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
134,258 comments on Sauber
2 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Valtteri Bottas
613,589 comments on Mercedes 57 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Mercedes
Replies (3)
Login to replyajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Valteri is clearly a solid #2 driver. But since this is not Ferrari, and it's expected for both drivers to win races, I am ready for Bottas to leave. He would seriously be perfect at Ferrari. Definitely better than boring, ever-depressed Raikkonen.
FatMike
Posts: 153
Chances of that happening are just as big as Seb becoming a calm and well tempered driver
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I just wonder what would happen if Bottas were to start steamrolling Hamilton. Would Hamilton be as positive to him then?