Bottas sees Hamilton as great challenge

Valtteri Bottas believes he can hold a good relationship together with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.

The last three years at Mercedes have seen a fierce rivalry between the Mercedes team-mates.

British driver Lewis Hamilton and German driver Nico Rosberg were known to be good friends on the track prior to being thrust into a battle for the Formula One World Championship.

Hamilton came out on top twice during those years, with Rosberg ending 2016 on top.

The rivalry took its toll on Rosberg with many speculating that it was the defining reason behind Rosberg’s decision to retire early from the sport.

Will Bottas have such a rivalry with Hamilton? Or can he follow more in the footsteps of Heikki Kovalainen and Jenson Button?

Indications are the latter, as Bottas has enjoyed good team-mate relations with Pastor Maldonado and Felipe Massa at Williams [incidentally coming out on top every year].

‘I see no reason we couldn’t work professionally as a good pair of team mates, race hard but fair and work well as a team. I see no reason why that wouldn’t be possible.’ Bottas told formula1.com.

‘It’s going to be a great challenge going up against Lewis as my team mate. Obviously it is never going to be easy to beat him – he is a great driver, a three-time champion, but I don’t have any special plan other than to keep doing what I am.

‘If I thought I couldn’t compare or be quicker, I would rather stay at home. I believe in myself, I believe it is possible – but like I say I do need to go step by step, race by race.