Bottas Believes He Has "All the Tools" to Be Champion

Mercedes-driver Valtteri Bottas is confident he has all the tools required to win this year's championship. The Finn replaced retiring world champion Nico Rosberg last year, and had a breakthrough season, winning three Grands Prix and claiming four pole positions along the way.

Even though Bottas finished 60 points behind his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who won his world title, he showed some excellent form at the end of the season, winning pole position and winning the race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

When Bottas was asked if he could see himself winning this years' title, he responded by saying “I believe I have all the tools, I can’t see any reason why not.”

Heading into the 2018 season, Mercedes remain the clear favourites. The German outfit completed the most laps out of every team in the two weeks of testing in Barcelona, with Bottas and Hamilton completing over 1000 laps between them.

“I think we have made progress," Bottas said about the new car. "At least in Barcelona the balance is a bit more together than last season. We’ve had no big issues, balance in the car and setting up the car, but it’s only one track so we will find out over the season.