Bottas: Criticism has given me an extra boost for 2019

Valtteri Bottas remains excited for the fact that every driver starts the season on an even playing field with zero points at the beginning of the 2019 Formula 1 season, and believes the criticism he received at points last season has given him an "extra boost" to succeed.

The 2018 F1 campaign was a forgettable one for Bottas, as he was the only driver within the top six not to win a race, eventually finishing fifth behind his partner, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, and Max Verstappen.

As he had the same car as the runaway winner, Hamilton, he received negative press for his inability to make the most of it like his team-mate.

However, he is upbeat for the new season, and believes the criticism aimed at him has only increased his desire to succeed,

"I am excited that everyone starts with zero points. We are all on the same line and 2019 can bring anything, that's exciting. It's going to be a new season ahead and I'm going to put everything I have for this year, all in. I'm sure it's going to be interesting.

"I am very happy to start a new season, because for me personally 2018 did not go the way I wanted to.

Me and my buddy travelling yesterday ??????????#VB77 #travel #bestbuddy #fanni #doggo #dalmatian
???? @JanErikOlin pic.twitter.com/zIlNw729fu — Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) January 28, 2019

"There was quite a bit of criticism at some stages of 2018, but that's actually been a positive thing for me because it's given me an extra boost!

"I've taken all the points I can learn from last year to come back stronger. And I also found many positives, which I maybe didn't see at the end of the year, but now digging deep I can see those. I can build on all of that for 2019."

Bottas' contract with Mercedes runs out at the end of the 2019 season.

MORE: Pochettino likens Tottenham's Premier League plight to Alonso and Hamilton in F1
MORE: Hamilton, Alonso targeted by new all-electric series