Toto Wolff has emphasised that Valtteri Bottas has the ability to turn around his fortunes amid a difficult second season with Mercedes.
Bottas joined Mercedes for 2017 and claimed three wins, in Russia, Austria and Abu Dhabi, to finish third in the standings, and briefly emerged as an outsider for the title.
Bottas began 2018 brightly and could have won in China, but for a mis-timed Safety Car, while a puncture three laps from home robbed him of victory in Azerbaijan.
But since then he has challenged for the win only once, in Germany, and holds only fourth in the standings, 110 points behind leader and team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who has taken seven victories.
Bottas could drop out of mathematical title contention following this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix, but Wolff has backed his driver to recover from his current position.
“For every racing driver [having a slim title chance] is a very difficult situation to be in,” said Wolff.
“Because everything you dream about and everything you work for is winning the World Championship. When you realise you're not in the hunt any more, that's very difficult to handle.
“But Valtteri has shown that he has the speed, the talent and the work ethic to win in a Mercedes.
“He has always been a team player and that is one of his greatest character traits.
“Valtteri could have won races this year, but the odds were against him.
“However luck isn't just a one-way street; and I know that Valtteri has every ingredient it needs to win at this level.
“He just needs to keep working hard to improve and trust that the tables will turn for him.”
Bottas has not out-qualified Hamilton on merit since he claimed his sole pole position of 2018 in Austria.
