Rosberg advises Bottas on how to beat Hamilton

Valtteri Bottas must replicate his early 2019 approach across an entire season if he is to beat Lewis Hamilton to title glory, according to Nico Rosberg.

Hamilton wrapped up his sixth world title at the United States GP on Sunday by following Mercedes team-mate Bottas home in second. The Finn entered the race as Hamilton's sole remaining title rival, albeit some distance adrift in the standings.

After winning two of the first four races, Bottas struggled to keep pace with Hamilton in the European swing of the season and the Briton's latest triumph has been a formality for some time.

It means Rosberg remains the only driver to get the better of Hamilton in the V6 Hybrid era and the 2016 world champion offered some sage advice to Bottas.

"I think Valtteri played some good mind games in the beginning of the year," Rosberg told Sky Sports.

"He came in and showed that it was this Valtteri 2.0 – really, really strong – and that works.

"That's the perfect way to do it, just focus on yourself, make yourself look as strong and powerful as possible, deliver with results. I think that's the best way, because if you annoy Lewis that's not the way to go either because when he's angry he becomes stronger! So it's a fine line."

Bottas has five poles to Hamilton's four in 2019, but Rosberg says greater focus needs to be put on Sundays.

"He needs to put the whole season together because Valtteri always has moments where he's really strong and beating Lewis but then Lewis comes back and just destroys him for many, many races.

"Race pace I think has been a key problem of Valtteri's. The race pace is where he must improve. He's wearing those rear tyres out and [compared to] Lewis in most races that's really a big problem."

Related

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton sends strong message over Gaza deaths

• Yesterday 22:57

F1 News & Gossip

Former F1 chief hits out at Hamilton 'EXCUSES'

• Yesterday 13:57