Explorer

Hamilton dubs Bottas as 'amazing' teammate

Johannesburg [South Africa], Dec 23 (ANI): Four-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has said that he is all set to face new and much-improved Valtteri Bottas in 2018 as he believes his Mercedes teammate has adapted well to the life in the team.

Last year, Bottas had signed a one-year deal to replace suddenly-retired Nico Rosberg as Hamilton's new teammate at Mercedes for the ongoing season.

The 28-year-old later extended his stay at Mercedes after a new one-year deal was agreed by the team.

Describing Bottas as an "amazing" teammate, Hamilton backed the former to put up a more sustained challenge next season.

"Valtteri's been an amazing team-mate this year. It's not easy at all to go to a team for the first year, particularly as you already had plans to be somewhere else at the beginning of the year," Sport24 quoted Bottas, as saying.

Bottas clinched the first three victories of his Formula One career - Russia Grand Prix, Austria Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix-after joining Mercedes from Williams.

He further went on to finish at the third spot in the drivers' world championship standings with 304 points.

Hamilton emphasised that a driver usually takes a long time to get used to the new team, but Bottas is very strong-minded who managed to finish his first season with Mercedes so strong.

"You then have a very short period of time to get used to a new team, learn the new systems, learn the tools which you'll use during the year.It takes a long time to learn how to manipulate the car to help extract your performance, so he hit the ground pretty fast at the beginning of the year," Hamilton said.

"There are drivers who have sustained a little bit then fallen back and never recovered from that mental fight that you have. He's very strong-minded and he came back and finished up strong so I anticipate he's going to be stronger next year, so I'm going to make sure I'm on my toes," he added.

Since joining Mercedes, Bottas has also secured nine podiums finishes, thus equaling the number of podiums he secured in his entire career before this season. (ANI)


This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI

View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headline

Gangster-Turned-Politician Mukhtar Ansari Dies Of Heart Attack At Banda Medical College
Gangster-Turned-Politician Mukhtar Ansari Dies Of Heart Attack At Banda Medical College
Roof Collapses During Renovation Work At Chennai Bar, 3 Dead
Roof Collapses During Renovation Work At Chennai Bar, 3 Dead
Mukhtar Ansari News LIVE: Security Beefed Up At Bandra Medical College After Gangster's Death
Mukhtar Ansari News LIVE: Security Beefed Up At Bandra Medical College After Gangster's Death
PM Modi Calls Congress A 'Bully' After Lawyers Write To CJI. Here's What He Said
PM Modi Calls Congress A 'Bully' After Lawyers Write To CJI. Here's What He Said
Advertisement
for smartphones
and tablets

Videos

Bihar Lok Sabha Polls 2024: ABP Exclusive With Papu Yadav, MP No Longer Contesting From PurniaVarun Gandhi Pens Emotional Letter To Pilibhit After Being Denied, Says 'Mai Aapka Hu Aur Rahunga'Delhi Excise Policy Case: With CM Arvind Kejriwal's Arrest, Who Will Run The State | Watch ReportLok Sabha Elections 2024: 'BJP Just Wants To Break The Aam Aadmi Party' says Saurabh Bhardwaj

Photogallery

Embed widget