Bottas says Hamilton title fight will boost performances

Valtteri Bottas says he will perform even better for Mercedes if he can manage to stick in the title fight with Lewis Hamilton until the end of the season.

Bottas is realistically Hamilton's only remaining challenger this season, but must make up a 63-point deficit over the remaining seven races, starting with Singapore where the Brit took one of his more dominant victories 12 months ago.

Having faded from the fight in 2017 and never really featuring last year, Bottas can feel the weight of momentum behind him, having secured another year at the Silver Arrows as well.

And the Finn says he will not give up until Hamilton is crowned the champion.

"It's definitely a better feeling for the end of the year," he said. "I also feel very good support from the team and the points gap between me and Lewis is not night and day.

"You never know what will happen in the championship. There might be opportunities for the championship, no point giving up, we have seven races and things can happen.

"It's encouraging for me to see I can perform. There's no doubt from my side that I can, when I will be able to be at my best, when title hopes and motivation is there, I know I can do it.

"I look forward to Singapore, another race that has been difficult in the past, Lewis has been really strong there. We'll give a big effort there to have a good and strong weekend."

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