"Team leader" mentality has prevented bust-up with Bottas - Hamilton
"Team leader" mentality has prevented bust-up with Bottas - Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton believes learning to be a "team leader" has helped him to avoid a breakdown of the relationship between himself and Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
Hamilton's relationship with his previous team-mate Nico Rosberg quickly reached boiling point as the pair were strongly competitive and fought each other hard in an open racing environment.
The rivalry with Bottas has been less intense but Hamilton explained: "I would say I’ve naturally grown over time, so learning more and more how to be a team player and a team leader.
"I really don’t think I’ve changed the way that I work [since Rosberg]. I generally keep myself to myself, I work with my team.
"I think we have really good respect between us. When he wins, he knows he’s done it outright on hard work, and if not then he knows that he just has to work harder next time."
Hamilton's four-year partnership with Rosberg saw many close battles between the two, with Hamilton taking 32 wins and two titles and Rosberg 22 wins and one title. The qualifying balance was 42/36 in favour of Hamilton.
In contrast, Bottas has been much more of a support driver in the team, only winning nine races since joining in 2017 while Hamilton has won 41. He has not been able to mount a title fight that has gone the distance.
Hamilton added: "We continue to work on our relationship, colleague-wise and competitor-wise, in the background and we don’t let whatever’s happened on track filter into when we get out of the car.
"The great thing I’ve always taken pride in for myself is that I have to do the job on the track, can’t blame any other factors. [You] can’t be trying to alter other factors outside in order to affect the outcome of a race.
"If I get beaten on a day, I need to do a better job, and if I win naturally it’s great."
Team principal Toto Wolff added the positive partnership between the two has become a key part of the team's relentless and dominant performances.
Wolff said: "I think it’s completely normal that there’s always a rivalry and that is the name of the game.
"Harmony is the wrong word because between two team-mates harmony is difficult and we completely comprehend it. We’re not out racing because we seek for harmony on the weekend.
"I think it’s a very productive environment now where things are being done. We’re not taking each other so seriously sometimes and the talking is being done on the track."
Before you go...
Wolff issues safety warning over planned wind tunnel ban
McLaren ready to “give it everything” in intense triple-header - Norris
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Vettel announces F1 return as FIA single Mercedes out for Miami checks - GPFans F1 Recap
- 40 minutes ago
F1 team announce SHOCK signing weeks after rival departure
- 1 hour ago
Former team boss quizzed on role in Newey's Red Bull exit
- 2 hours ago
RB reveal STRIKING new livery ahead of Miami GP
- 3 hours ago
EXCLUSIVE: Insider claims F1 Academy and W Series couldn't co-exist
- Yesterday 19:57
Wolff delivers big verdict on Hamilton behaviour
- Yesterday 18:57
Related news
Hamilton salutes New York after making F1 HISTORY
Ecclestone ATTACKS Hamilton 'ego' after Ferrari move
Hamilton beats Verstappen and host of legends to key title
Former F1 chief suggests Ferrari making WRONG decision in Hamilton-Sainz switch
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860