Valtteri Bottas says only “fine details” are separating the Mercedes drivers in Formula 1 this season, amid the Finn’s strong start to the campaign.
Bottas rebounded from a qualifying crash in Australia to challenge for victory at each of the following three Grands Prix, taking back-to-back second places in Bahrain and China.
Bottas led the way in China until a mid-race Safety Car thwarted his prospects, enabling Daniel Ricciardo to triumph on fresher tyres, while a puncture three laps from home in Azerbaijan put him out of the lead.
The Mercedes pair are matched at 2-2 in the qualifying duel this season, a marked change from the middle stretch of last year, when Lewis Hamilton regularly held a strong advantage.
“I think we came very close so far this season,” Bottas said when asked if he felt he had the edge between the duo.
“It’s just fine details [separating us] and it depends on the session, so I can’t really say I really have an edge now but it’s definitively very close between us.
“But I feel I have an opportunity to be ahead in every race if I perform well. It’s possible but he’s tough to beat. He wants to win the title quite a lot, as well, but it’s good for both of us that we are, so far this year, a bit closer and also from the end of last year.
“Now we are trying extremely hard, it’s pretty close between three teams and it’s good for us, as a team.”
When asked to explain his stronger form in 2018, Bottas replied: “I think it’s just all the learning from last year, race-by-race always picking up something.
“Also, finishing last year with good performances in the last couple of races, I feel like I’ve been able to keep on going from there.
“I feel like I went to Abu Dhabi to Melbourne with a similar feeling. I know the team better and better and, obviously starting a second year with the team is very different to the first year, as you can just focus on the things that mater and it makes a difference.
“You always keep on learning. Of course it was a great opportunity when you change to a new team, you meet so many new people with different views, with different ways of working and it’s a great opportunity for you to take yourself to the next level and I think that’s happening all the time now.”
