I have less pressure on me now, says Bottas

Valtteri Bottas feels that having a full season in Formula 1 with Mercedes under his belt means there will 'less pressure on his in 2018, and feels also that he concentrate on doing what he does best - driving to as high a standard as possible.

The Finn was very much the junior member of the Mercedes driving team in 2017, playing second fiddle to eventual champion Lewis Hamilton much of the time.

Bottas did however pick up three wins in the season, including in Abu Dhabi at the culmination of the campaign, and he reckons that the experience he has acquired will stand him in good stead, and allowing to focus fully on the driving.

He said, via a press conference: "The pressure is now much less.

"I have gone through one season with Lewis [Hamilton], and the team is now familiar to me. At my best level I can get poles and win races. Last February, I had to learn about the team but now I can focus just on improving the performance.

"I'm able to concentrate on driving a lot more."

Hamilton at the same time passed comment on his driving partner, and says that now Bottas has had a full year under his belt, he has 'no excuses'.

Hamilton commented: "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."