Bottas doesn't understand anything about critics: 'I still don't understand that'

Why so angry?

In recent years Bottas has been much criticised. As second driver next to Lewis Hamilton he is the ideal driver for Mercedes, but Bottas himself wants more. The fact that people criticise him often seems to hit the Finn. After all, if he wins, he has to go straight to his critics. According to the Mercedes driver, however, that is different.

"As an athlete and someone who puts everything aside for his sport, it's very frustrating when you don't achieve the goals and results you'd hoped for for a longer period of time. It's a nice and pleasant feeling when it does fall in my direction and a proof that I can still do it," says Bottas at Sky Sports.

Motivation for Bottas

"That statement was not against one person, but more how I felt in general. People will always judge you without knowing you. People can't know what's going on inside, so it's a bit stupid to judge about that." When asked whether all this negative attention doesn't stand in his way, the answer is twofold.

"I'm not trying to care, but use it as a motivation to perform better. It doesn't bring me down any more. I still don't understand why people do it, but I've learned to make sure it doesn't adversely affect my career," says the Finnish driver, who already has a new contract with Mercedes before 2021.