Following the shock retirement of newly topped F1 world champion Nico Rosberg, Bottas left Williams to hitch Mercedes for 2017. He remained alongside Hamilton till a 2022 transfer to Sauber (then branded Alfa Romeo).
Throughout their time collectively, Hamilton received 50 grands prix and 4 drivers’ titles whereas Bottas scored 10 victories.
To maintain competing in opposition to his team-mate, Bottas now believes that he needed to be in a state of denial.
Talking completely to Motorsport.com, the Finn mentioned: “It’s important to be in denial.
“I used to be in denial for nearly 5 years as a result of yearly, I needed to get again to the season after which battle for the title and I needed to consider in myself.”
Bottas added that it was solely throughout his last 2021 season at Mercedes – after which the crew made room to advertise junior driver George Russell from Williams – that he got here to phrases with dropping out within the head-to-head.
He continued: “It was solely once I knew that I used to be leaving the crew then that I observed that I used to be a bit extra wonderful with sure issues.
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Pictures
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st place, and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, third place, rejoice on the rostrum
“I used to be permitting to just accept a few of these type of issues. So, for certain, in your profession, you undergo these type of issues…
“With Lewis, solely within the final yr might I settle for to myself that in equal equipment over a interval of a full season, I actually struggled to beat him and that he is in all probability higher in sure areas. As a racing driver, to confess that to your self, is tough.”
Bottas supposed that Sergio Perez may now be “going by way of an analogous expertise” in opposition to dominant Purple Bull stablemate and three-time world champion Max Verstappen.
When Bottas was requested if he wanted everybody at Mercedes to maintain telling him that he might beat Hamilton, he replied: “No, it was fairly open conferences.
“Every part relies on info and what they will see by way of the information on these issues. You possibly can see the typical distinction in qualifying or race tempo. Nothing was prevented.
“I’ve no regrets as a result of it was a tough scenario for me as a result of I used to be yearly on a one-year contract.
“I knew that if I needed to battle for the title, I wanted to be buried on this crew. If I began to be an arsehole, I might lose my job fairly simply. They may at all times get another person.”
