Bottas 'ready to do anything it takes' to win title

Valtteri Bottas has confessed that he is 'ready to do anything it takes' to defeat his team-mate Lewis Hamilton in order to become the Formula One world champion, but admits he will need to be at his very best in all aspects of racing to do so.

Bottas was involved in his maiden season with Mercedes last year after replacing Nico Rosberg, and although he managed to win a few Grand Prix races such as the finale in Abu Dhabi, he was never a serious contender for the championship.

The Finn praised his team-mate, Hamilton, as one of the best drivers, but he thinks he has what it takes to beat the current world champion.

"For sure he is one of the best drivers ever in Formula 1," Bottas told ESPN this week.

"[He's] a four-time world champion who's always on it.

"But I proved to myself a few times last year that I can do it and I can beat him. It's up to me to be performing well consistently all through the year," he added. "Not having those kinds of race weekends when I'm a couple of tenths off or something.

"I need to [perform] in all conditions: no matter what track, which temperature and which tarmac. I need to be there."

Bottas insists he will do 'anything' it takes to become world champion, but stopped short of implying he would get involved in a war of words with anyone - unlike Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

"For sure every driver wants to be world champion, but I am so hungry for it. I'm ready to do anything it takes," he continued.

"Normally my style is not to mess with other people's things. I tend to focus on my performance and getting the most out of myself and the team around me.

"I'm not planning to change anything of what I do. I believe if I perform consistently from race one then for sure we can have a bit more of a challenge with Lewis on track.

"Even though something would change, I can't see any issues of why we wouldn't be able to work together in the team.

"I just tend not to deal with that stuff. I just want to focus on my performance and that will hopefully get me further.

"Even though the harmony is there, I don't see that it is making Lewis a better driver. I think he's always on it."