Lewis Hamilton extends a warm welcome to Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes, but it's business as usual for the three-time champion. Financial wizard Mario Andretti, a former champion in this sport, believes Hamilton will continue to give his best, regardless of who his toughest rival is. "Lewis just loves being where he is," Andretti told CNN.
Talented Tactician
Despite losing the 2016 title by a mere five points, Hamilton ended the season on a high note with victories in the final four races of the season in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, and Abu Dhabi. With the 2017 season set to kick off in Australia on March 26, featuring a new generation of cars and regulations, Hamilton and Mercedes remain strong favorites for the top spot. This means Bottas has a real chance to showcase his potential and threaten Hamilton's championship aspirations.
Jackie Stewart, the three-time World Champion, thinks Finland's Bottas will surprise Hamilton. "He's relatively inexperienced, but he's a very talented driver and has a clear mind," Stewart told CNN. "It's more than just driving fast. It's about managing thoughts, and I think he's good at it."
New Challenge, New Victories Await
Bottas has a history of delivering solid performances, having appeared on the podium nine times in four seasons while driving for Williams. With Hamilton having previously taken notice of Bottas's ability to consistently outscore his teammate in each season, it would be intriguing to see if the Finnish driver can finally break through and secure his first Grand Prix win in 2017.
Renault Sport racer Jolyon Palmer believes Bottas will certainly win one or more races during the upcoming season, potentially even becoming a new top scorer. Esteban Gutierrez, who drove for the American Haas F1 team last season, agrees. "He's going to do it," Gutierrez said. "I've known Valtteri well since 2009, when we were teammates in Formula 3, and have always been close friends since then."
So, it seems that the stage is set for an exciting and intense battle between the two talented drivers in the world of motorsport. Bottas, with his proven talent and experience, has a golden opportunity to showcase his abilities against his more experienced and dominant counterpart.
Bonus Insight: From the enrichment data, we can see that Bottas managed to consistently outscore his teammates, a skill that will undoubtedly be valuable in his competition against Hamilton.
[1]: Source: statista.com [2]: Source: reddit.com [3]: Source: motor1.com
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