Bottas to treat every GP like his 'last race' in 2019
Bottas to treat every GP like his 'last race' in 2019
Valtteri Bottas knows he is under pressure to have his contract with Mercedes extended beyond 2019 after an abject 2018 campaign, and in order to secure better results in his Mercedes he is going to treat every Grand Prix like his "last race".
The Finn, whether it be through poor performances, bad luck, or team orders, has failed to win a race this season and was actually described as the perfect "wingman" for Lewis Hamilton by his team boss, Toto Wolff. - a statement which he objected to.
He recognises an improvement is required next year, and he is going to go all-out in every race to get it.
"This sport is funny, you never know what happens in the future," said Bottas.
"But I think the right mentality for me to approach next year is like I have nothing to lose. I just want to go for it and drive like I stole it, like it's my last race, last day ever. So, yeah, I think that's it. That's a good plan."
The Mercedes driver is content with his qualifying pace, which he claims has improved since last season, but confesses it needs to be translated into race results.
"I think the fact is, as a team, what we've analysed and what we spoke with the guys, qualifying pace and race pace, compared to my teammate, has been better this year on average, which is positive, but the results haven't," he continued.
A tough evening under the lights for @ValtteriBottas, he has to settle for P5 at @ymcofficial #AbuDhabiGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/r16IThCwNG — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) November 25, 2018
"So all those things, we need to analyse why the results weren't there. Obviously sometimes it was unlucky, sometimes were different reasons. But... yeah, I think performance-wise this year was better, but results-wise last year was better."
Bottas is ultimately adamant that he can perform much better, and never doubted his ability to compete at the top of the grid.
"In this sport, when you're kind of sometimes thinking of yourself, you're thinking all kind of different things," he added.
"The main thing is always the thought that I've got to be the strongest, and I've never told myself that I'm not good enough to do this.
"So... and I still believe so, even though I feel disappointed for the season, I know that I can do much more than what this season proves, and that is the main thing."
MORE: Arrivabene hoping for Brexit solution for F1 and Ferrari
MORE: VIDEO: Verstappen and Ricciardo play Truth or Lie
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Mercedes star tipped to replace struggling driver THIS season
- 11 minutes ago
F1 legend issues DAMNING verdict on proposed rule change
- 1 hour ago
Red Bull chief admits interest in poaching TWO rival stars
- 2 hours ago
Audi agree LONG-TERM F1 deal with star driver
- 2 hours ago
FIA boss HITS OUT at 'court of public opinion' after interference allegations
- 3 hours ago
F1 News Today: Horner reveals Verstappen SECRET as team reveal surprise name change
- Today 06:27
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