Bottas is supported by Mercedes: ''Then no one would have criticised him''

Wolff stands up for his driver

Valtteri Bottas starts every season with a lot of hope, but since he switched to Mercedes he hasn't been anywhere near the championship yet. He fell short again in 2020 and was disappointing when Russell took the lead in the race and was able to keep Bottas behind him.

''What we need to look at and what we need to work out together is the fact that the drivers are all about winning the World Championship. The margin between winning and losing is so small in this sport. If he had won in Sakhir, nobody would have criticised Valtteri. And that had everything to do with a good or less good start. He was overtaking for that unfortunate pit stop incident as well," Wolff also pointed to the positive points speaking to Motorsport.com.

No doubts about Bottas

''Valtteri has had highlights, but above all many more lows than he deserved. Those lows were not due to his own performance, but simply the result of bad luck.

''How many times did he lead a race that he probably would have won, but then suddenly there was another red flag? Or before he had a flat tyre? Several times. I think he could have had a handful more wins. And the championship could have stayed open much, much longer. He is performing at a very high level. There's no reason to doubt him," concluded Wolff.