Bottas wants "equal" priority to Hamilton early in season
Bottas wants "equal" priority to Hamilton early in season
Valtteri Bottas has revealed that he expects to receive "equal" priority and treatment to Lewis Hamilton early on in the 2019 Formula 1 campaign, following incidents last year in which he was expected to compliment the Brit rather than compete due to 'team orders'.
Ferrari has opened its account for this year by saying that Sebastian Vettel has "priority" over new teammate Charles Leclerc.
A newly-bearded Bottas, on the other hand, has come out in 2019 declaring that he is determined to chase for the world championship, after a disappointing season last year.
When asked about the dreaded 'team orders' issue, the Finn said: "I think we are very clear about it.
"Certainly at the beginning of the year we will be equal," he told Ilta Sanomat newspaper.
"If at some point there are clear point differences then it (team orders) may be possible."
Our driver schedule for the first day of the second @F1 winter test in Barcelona, tomorrow!
Morning ??@LewisHamilton
Afternoon ?? @ValtteriBottas#F1Testing pic.twitter.com/CBmJKeATMB — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 25 February 2019
It is not known to what extent Mercedes' policy will differ from that of Ferrari in 2019, with the Italian team often running clear 'number 2' drivers in the past.
"They've made certain choices in the past, but now less often," Bottas said.
There is only one season behind Leclerc. Maybe they will allow him to grow and develop."
Bottas also commented on the plight of the team that brought him into formula one: Williams.
"Hopefully they will be able to drive and the car will work well," he said ahead of the final Barcelona test. It's not nice when I know the team and there's still a lot of the same people there. I wish them all the best."
MORE: Red Bull are 'clearly ahead of Mercedes'
MORE: Livefeed: F1 Testing: Test Two, Day One - LIVE!
Follow @GPFansGlobal on Instagram for behind-the-scenes access from across the testing fortnight.
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 Chinese Grand Prix weather forecast - latest today from Shanghai
- 39 minutes ago
Hamilton dealt China blow after major FIA decision as Ricciardo given huge Horner warning - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
F1 team unveil star-studded lineup in China
- Yesterday 23:12
F1 Qualifying Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 22:27
Horner delivers threat to Ricciardo over Red Bull pressure
- Yesterday 21:57
F1 Sprint Race Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 21:27
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