Disappointed Bottas reflects on 'worst season' of his career

Valtteri Bottas believes that 2018 represents the "worst season" of his career so far as he has so far failed to claim a single race win, with his last coming in the final race of 2017 in Abu Dhabi, with Yas Marina also presenting his last chance to win this campaign.

The Finn is fourth in the drivers' rankings, but all of his points have been accumulated by podium positions rather than victories, with unfortunate power issues, and indeed team orders from Mercedes, hampering his assault on P1 finishes.

“For sure the first season was tough,” Bottas told RaceFans.

“But you can’t compare because with Williams in ’13 we were fighting at the back. I felt that during my first year in Formula 1 I can’t get my goals [for a] few seasons. Then a few seasons after were better than this one.”

“Last year was quite different to this year. It was my first year with the team, first year alongside Lewis [Hamilton].

“I remember this time last year I was disappointed, I didn’t meet my targets. But now when I look back, at least then I won a few races. Some hopes. So now at this point at this very same point I’m even more disappointed, for sure. Yeah I think this is the worst season so far.”

About last year… eh, @ValtteriBottas ????????#AbuDhabiGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/ghh8syv5nP — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) November 21, 2018

Despite his belief this is his worst season in terms of results, but reckons he has performed better as a driver than most other campaigns, whilst cursing his bad luck.

“I think there’s been some very odd races,” he continued

“Just things haven’t gone my way.I ’ve been quite unlucky in general this year. I don’t think there’s more than that.

“I know the fact that I performed better than last year. In the end that’s the only thing that matters after a season like this, one to learn from, one to kind of also forget but one that definitely will make me a tougher driver and person in the future.”

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