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Valtteri Bottas is still keeping his championship hopes alive as he says the gap between himself and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamiton for the top spot is not "night and day".
At the Italian Grand Prix last weekend, Bottas outscored Hamilton for the first time since Austria, decreasing the gap slightly in the championship after crossing the line in second, while Hamilton was third.
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Bottas is now 63 points behind the five-time world champion with seven races left to run in the season, leaving him with some hope that fortune could play into his hands.
"It's definitely a better feeling, going forwards," Bottas said after his P2 result at Monza. "I also feel I have very good support from the team. The points gap between me and Lewis, it's a gap but it's not like it's night and day.
"You never know what can happen in a championship and there still might be opportunities. There's no point giving up, there's still seven races and things can happen.
"I'll take it race by race. It's encouraging for me to see I can perform, and there's no doubt from my side that I can. When I'm able to be at my best, when there's hope and motivation there, I know I can do it."
Bottas aiming to keep form going at Singapore
Bottas says that he is now looking forward to the race in Singapore, as it aims to have a strong weekend at a circuit that hasn't endorsed him in the past - and keeping up a trait this year of producing strong results at historically unfavourable circuits for the Finn.
"So just looking forward to Singapore, another race that has been difficult in the past and Lewis has been strong there. So we'll give an effort there to try and have a good, strong weekend," Bottas stated.
"Singapore is definitely on paper better for us than Ferrari than here. We were close to them here, so it should be good. It's a special track, very hot conditions and you need what it needs mechanically from the car.
"But I'm looking forward to it. There have been many races I've been able to turn around this year that have been difficult in the past, I've been able to be competitive."
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (9)
Login to replyJuJuHound
Posts: 352
I'm very dissapointed of Valterri's driving at Monza on final stage of the race. I really thought they would pit Bottas first so Lewis could chase Leclerc at the end of the race (while opposite happened). I think Lewis would be able to do it.
These mechanic's comments like: "This is your win" sounds so bitter now.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Let the act go, Bottas. We know you are second fiddle to Hammy, and even if you tried you likely wouldn't beat him. Just hope that next year's car suits you better than Hammy, that's all you can do right now Bottas.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Valeri is the second driver because he is second tier in performance. Mercedes is just about the only top team I recall to actually let their drivers fight it out since McLaren of the 90's. That being said, it bothers me that Valeri is so far behind. It was pretty fun to see Lewis actually fight with his teammate.. It was fun to see him rattled and then come back.
JuJuHound
Posts: 352
Nico was trying and trying each year and he finally made it.
Pistonhead
Posts: 556
He has to tell himself this of course but the stats don't lie - since they've been together it's been a bashing. You can't argue every year the cars suited one or the other - I hope for his sake he can pull out some cracking drives, at the very leat square the final third with Hamilton so he goes into next year with a good mojo.
f1ski
Posts: 726
The points gap would be minuscule if Ricciardo, Leclerc, Verstappen, Raikkonen,or Vettel. Valteri be aggressive throw caution to the wind MB has the manufacturer competition locked up go for some points be aggressive. I know you have it in you .
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
He's tried many times before. He really doesn't have it. You can't be aggressive if you don't have the talent to match it. Valeri is definitely a top midfield driver. Ricciardo, Max, Lewis, Charles, I still think Seb... Are a different category
f1ski
Posts: 726
yes but I will say Bottas in my mind is a better driver than Rosberg. I think Nico had to convince himself that he could be better. Valteri has been faster than Lewis. If pushed Lewis cannot care for his tires and when he starts worrying that tires will cost him the race he is in a place where he can crack. Think about his season when Nico beat him the calls on the radio.
xoya
Posts: 583
He is right. It's not "night and day".
It's "day and night".