Losing F1 title to Hamilton every year leaves me mentally drained - Bottas
Losing F1 title to Hamilton every year leaves me mentally drained - Bottas
Valtteri Bottas has revealed the extent losing the Formula 1 title to Lewis Hamilton for four consecutive years has taken out on him.
Bottas will go up against Hamilton for the final time this season in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the seven-time champion has been declared fit to return after testing negative on numerous occasions following a 10-day period of self-isolation in the wake of contracting Covid-19.
The Finn goes into the season finale on a run of poor form as two eighth-placed finishes have followed his six-spin outing in the Turkish Grand Prix, a race Hamilton won in astonishing circumstances to clinch his record-equalling seventh drivers' title.
The performance drop-off after seeing his title hopes crushed is not uncommon, resulting in a suggestion it was due to the amount of concentration required to take on Hamilton over a season.
"It is these kinds of moments where you feel you don't perform 100% or you have bad races for different reasons," said Bottas.
"For sure, there is a lot to learn. There is no secret that battling with Lewis for years and years, I know how much it takes out of me every single week to get 100% out of me and keep pushing.
"It sometimes gets close, sometimes I beat him, but having a fourth year in a row with defeat in terms of the championship title, it is tough to accept.
"For sure, it has an effect when you know the title is lost. There is no point in me saying, even though you must always give 100%, which I try, but everyone knows how mentally sensitive this sport is.
"I think from this year, there is much to learn that hopefully, I can use for the future."
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff had initially suggested the trait within Bottas regarding the performance drop-off in the wake of watching him struggle against George Russell in last weekend's Sakhir GP.
Reflecting on Wolff's remarks, Bottas said: "Relating to Toto's comments, I don't know. Since Imola, it has been a run of really bad luck and honestly, I can't remember the last time I was on a podium.
"I don't think I have been performing at my best the last few races but of course, I still try and do everything I can.
"There many things that can happen in the sport. Sometimes it is luck, sometimes it is what you do yourself and also the car.
"All I can say is I can do much better than if you look at the last four races, so I need to do better."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Hamilton in Ferrari F1 SHOCK as star targeted for stunning Audi move - GPFans F1 Recap
- 2 hours ago
F1 wonderkid in Mercedes TEST amid driver replacement reports
- 3 hours ago
Former Perez F1 boss reveals who should replace him
- Yesterday 21:57
Sainz hints at sensational move to rival series
- Yesterday 20:57
McLaren star DROPPED following serious injury
- Yesterday 19:57
F1 legend confident about Newey to Ferrari
- Yesterday 18:58
Related news
F1 wonderkid in Mercedes TEST amid driver replacement reports
Mercedes reveal shock RED livery to celebrate historic milestone
Verstappen 'to meet Mercedes over SHOCK 2025 move as Red Bull exit clause revealed'
BLOW for former F1 champion as Mercedes preferences revealed
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860