F1 | Bottas imposes himself: "I won't be driver No. 2 to help Hamilton"

Valtteri Bottas answers all charges according to which it would be, for the Mercedes, il driver number 2 in support of Lewis Hamilton for the conquest of world title of this year. After the "team order" that allowed Hamilton to overtake his teammate in the Bahrain Grand Prix last Formula 1 round, many glimpsed a decisive conduct and management of the drivers by the Mercedes pit wall. According to many, in fact, iThe team would have already appointed the Englishman as first driver and consequently Bottas as second driver.

“No, we haven't talked about it, because I don't think there's a need”, said Bottas commenting on the possible clarification with his team after letting Hamilton pass last race. “This team has never had any No.1 or No.2 drivers and doesn't intend to have any. He has always tried to give equal opportunities to both drivers, the only thing that is different for the team this year compared to the last three is that the gap with the second fastest team has narrowed.", said the Finn.

“The team has to think and be intelligent so as not to lose points. I wasn't fast in Bahrain", continued Bottas, convinced that the team will not give team orders to its drivers in normal circumstances, but that he will nevertheless continue to obey team orders should his position on the track hinder Mercedes for points: “If I had any problems in this race for any reason or we had to have a different strategy and Lewis happened to fall behind me, I would accept to let him pass, because we would do it as a team and our aim is to get points”, said a ESPN.

Furthermore, think that also Hamilton would do the same for him if he needed it: "Naturally", he concluded.

Fabiola Granier