Bottas was in denial for years: 'Admitting it was hard'

F1 News

Valtteri bottas found it hard to admit he was not competing for title
27 December 2023 at 10:00
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  • GPblog.com

Valtteri Bottas made the move from Williams to the Mercedes team in 2017, following Nico Rosberg's retirement. Here he stayed for five years where he then moved to Alfa Romeo [known as Sauber in 2024]. Speaking to motorsport.com, Bottas says he lived in a state of denial during his time at Mercedes.

"You have to be in denial. I was in denial for almost five years because every year, I wanted to get back to the season and then fight for the title and I had to believe in myself," Bottas said. He continued: "With Lewis, only in the last year could I accept to myself that in equal machinery over a period of a full season, I really struggled to beat him and that he's probably better in certain areas. As a racing driver, to admit that to yourself, is hard."

Mercedes were honest

For Bottas, the Mercedes team did not have to make a fuss about it, and they did not: "It was quite open meetings. Everything is based on facts and what they can see through the data on those things. You could see the average difference in qualifying or race pace. Nothing was avoided." It was a tricky situation for the Finn as he was given a one-year contract every year. "I have no regrets because it was a tricky situation for me because I was every year on a one-year contract. I knew that if I wanted to fight for the title, I needed to be buried in this team. If I started to be an arsehole, I would lose my job pretty easily. They could always get someone else," Bottas said.