During the podium on Sunday, Lewis Hamilton kind-of gifted his team-mate the 1st place trophy. Valtteri Bottas rejected the offer and now says he doesn't want to be handed an early Christmas present as he would like to beat Hamilton fairly.
Bottas started the race from pole, but the Mercedes garage ordered him to let Hamilton past to help with the title challenge. The Brit was calm on the podium and confirmed he was thinking about handing the position back.
Some fans expect Bottas to go on and win the final five races as Hamilton as all but mathematically won the title. But Bottas doesn't want any gifts.
"No, I think it's more fun if we race each other," Bottas said in an interview on crash.
"For sure we always go through all the scenarios, all the facts. Lewis is fighting for the championship and we're fighting for the constructors' championship.
“We always have a plan but today… It’s always difficult to predict what is going to happen in the race, how it’s going to go… but it is what it is."
Bottas could well have been in the championship fight himself had he picked up more luck earlier in the season. But yesterday's second-place finish moved him above Kimi Raikkonen and into third.
Anyone else predicting Bottas to win the final five? Or at least beat Hamilton? Let us know in the comments!
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