Bottas feeling 'less pressure' than last year

Valtteri Bottas has admitted that he is feeling under 'less pressure' this season than last year which was his debut season with the Silver Arrows, but also reckons that expectations will subsequently be larger when he gets behind the wheel for the 2018 campaign.

In 2016, Nico Rosberg won the world championship with Mercedes only to announce his shock retirement not long after which meant the Silver Arrows were forced into a recruitment drive.

Bottas won a few Grand Prix races last season, but never looked a major contender for the title up against his team-mate, Lewis Hamilton. The Finn admits the pressure has lessened this time around, but that expectations will have increased.

"I think now not being the rookie in this team, for sure the team is expecting more from me. So am I," Bottas said.

"I'm aiming for a better season than last year and for sure the team is hoping for me performing better also this season, that's for sure.

"I think last year going into the season, there was more pressure than now. Still I have all the targets ahead of me and I'm still hungry for all the wins and success.

"So definitely less pressure than last year."

Bottas is out of contract at the end of the 2018 season, and there has been speculation that Mercedes could potentially look for another driver if his performances do not get to that elusive world champion level. The likes of Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon have been tipped as potential replacements should the Silver Arrows decide to freshen up their line-up.