Hamilton 'dominance' at Mercedes scuppered Bottas
Hamilton 'dominance' at Mercedes scuppered Bottas
Valtteri Bottas has hinted Lewis Hamilton's status at Mercedes was a hindrance to his own F1 career at the constructors' champions.
The Finn was hailed by Mercedes for his teamwork and performance that helped the Silver Arrows claim all five constructors' titles during his tenure alongside seven-time drivers' champion Hamilton.
Bottas takes on the team leader role for the first time this season as he leads Guanyu Zhou at Alfa Romeo after making the switch over the winter.
Asked what he had learned from his time alongside Hamilton, speaking in an end-of-season interview, Bottas told GPFans: "I've been in a position that I've got to know Lewis pretty well as a human being as well, not just as a Formula 1 champion, and learned that he fully deserves everything he's achieved.
"He's got the talent, but then he puts that into good use and he works really hard.
"Obviously, his lifestyle is also different in a way that, he might be in New York just a day before the race weekend, whatever, doing other things.
"But when he is in his working mode and in this Formula 1 mode, he's never leaving any stone unturned and he's always pushing the team a lot.
"I feel like in the last few years, he's been more in a lead role, and for me, it's been quite difficult to try and take a lead role, because he's been, obviously, here before and he's pretty dominant in the way he works with a team.
"Also, setting up the car for sure, I've learned a few things, but also many [other] things."
Indicating it was not a one-way relationship, however, Bottas added: "Many times he had to copy my setup for the qualifying last minute.
"Driving style-wise, tyre management is one of his big strengths, and in any condition and circumstances, he always finds a way, how to be able to extend a stint or the best way to efficiently keep the tyres in a good condition.
"That race pace and tyre management part has probably been the biggest difference between me and Lewis and consistency is what he's had with those things."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1's quirkiest star begins selling ICE CREAM in latest venture
- 21 minutes ago
F1 colleagues UNFOLLOW each other as internal drama cranks up
- 1 hour ago
Hamilton 'emotional burden' heading into 2024 season revealed
- 2 hours ago
Marko DIRECTLY addresses Verstappen quit rumours
- 2 hours ago
Vettel CONFIRMS F1 comeback and reveals what's holding it up
- 3 hours ago
- 1
Hamilton flooded with applications as F1 celebrity pal founds new team
- Today 18:57
F1 Race Calendar
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
- GP JAPAN 5 - 7 Apr
- GP CHINA 19 - 21 Apr
- GP USA 3 - 6 May
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
- GP MONACO 24 - 26 May
Related news
F1 pundit SLAMS Mercedes as Hamilton woes continue
Hamilton labelled 'best that's ever walked the earth' after INCREDIBLE display
F1 team SAVED Russell from major injuries after horror crash
Mercedes F1 star will 'MISS' Japanese Grand Prix
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