Bottas has 'no excuses' this season - Hamilton

Current Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has insisted that his team-mate Valtteri Bottas has "no excuses' for not performing to a higher standard this season compared to last as he has now got to grips with featuring with a top team.

When Nico Rosberg won the championship in 2016 he quickly announced a shock retirement not long after which meant that Mercedes needed to start a recruitment drive. Bottas was eventually selected to partner Hamilton in 2017.

The Finn won a few races last year but was never a true candidate for the title, and Hamilton reckons his team-mate has had time to adapt to performing under huge pressure.

When asked if Bottas would be a bigger rival this time, Hamilton said:

"No. But I would say that about anyone. It's nothing about Valtteri.

"It’s difficult coming to a new team and learning new ways, new controls and now he’s gone through the whole learning process and he’s going to hit the ground running.

"So there’s no more excuses for sure."

These statements were echoed by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who also aimed a "no excuses" warning to Bottas for the upcoming 2018 campaign.

"If he can step up and challenge Lewis, he certainly has his place among the best Formula 1 drivers," Wolff insisted.

"If he does not, he will notice that there are no excuses."

Bottas finished third in the constructor rankings last season, but was a long way off Hamilton in first and Sebastian Vettel in second place.