Valtteri Bottas facing "so many lessons" for 2021 after failing to hit 2020 targets

Mercedes

Bottas facing "so many lessons" for 2021 after failing to hit 2020 targets

The Finn finished 124 points adrift of Lewis Hamilton

Ewan Gale

Sunday 27 December 2020 17:00

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas has claimed his failure to meet his targets over the past year has provided him with the chance to take "lessons learned" into a title charge in 2021.

Bottas saw team-mate Lewis Hamilton run away with the drivers' championship for the fourth successive season since joining the team, with the Briton winning 11 races to the Finn's two, and finishing 124 points clear at the top of the standings.

Whilst Bottas acknowledged the achievements of the team in becoming the first to win seven consecutive constructors' titles, he pointed to the big picture surrounding his own shortcomings as educational points ahead of a new season

"As a team, it was an amazing year under the circumstances we had this year," said Bottas.

"We still managed to achieve these kinds of results and make history in Formula 1 with the seventh constructors' title in a row. On that side, it has been amazing.

"But on a personal note, a bit mixed for sure. I didn't meet my targets for the year or results.

"But looking at the big picture, there are so many positive things and so many more lessons learned about driving and about myself and everything that I can carry into next year, turn into a strength and try again."

On occasion, Bottas was able to achieve parity with Hamilton across the year in qualifying and despite falling away on Sundays, he believes it was his general race pace that was his biggest improvement.

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"It was extremely close [in qualifying] many times this year and even in the top three as well," added Bottas.

"We had some good qualifying battles with Lewis. Obviously, in the race as the points show, more often he got the upper hand but I can't really say the qualifying was the biggest thing I improved.

"I would say actually the race pace overall this year was a little bit better, but obviously, more work to do."