Bottas outlines key to beating Hamilton to title

Valtteri Bottas knows his impressive start to the season will count for little if he lets the smaller moments slip as the year goes on. Bottas has traded top spot in the standings with his Mercedes team-mate in his most impressive beginning to a campaign yet in his F1 career.

Bottas won in Australia and Azerbaijan, putting memories of last year’s winless campaign firmly to one side.

Hamilton has matched the Finn stride for stride, with the Silver Arrows having secured one-two finishes at each race so far.

And Bottas is keen to show he has the lasting power to mount a full championship challenge.

For now, [the title battle is] between me and Lewis, but it's massively long season," Bottas said.

"There are many teams that, especially at some tracks, are very close and it's going to be a big development race between teams all through the season.

"But if it's going to be me and Lewis, every single opportunity is going to be key.

"That's why [the race in Spain] for me was annoying. I felt I worked hard for this weekend and for the qualifying… to be on pole, on this circuit where it means a lot and I lost it at the start.

"But that’s life and there's 16 opportunities to go. That's plenty. I look forward to it, Monaco next and we'll see."