Lewis Hamilton: "It’s interesting to see where Valtteri will go"
- Published on 18 Feb 2017 13:12
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he is interested in seeing how well his new team mate Valtteri Bottas will fit in at Mercedes. Bottas joins the Silver Arrows on a one year deal, replacing the retired Nico Rosberg.
As Mercedes are favourites for both titles once again, Hamilton is hoping that Bottas can adapt quickly and bring home points to help the team win a fourth straight constructors championship.
"It doesn’t matter who they are or where they come from, I know where I come from and I’m there to win," Hamilton said. "So my goal remains exactly the same and really with a new team-mate you hope they blend in, you hope they’re a positive guy for the team.
"There’s over a thousand people in our team so it’s not just about me, it’s not just about him or her. For example I’ve had years where I’ve put in good results but my team-mate hasn’t and we should have won the [constructors'] championship, but all those guys [at the factory] didn’t win the world championship because the other wasn’t able to back me up."
Hamilton is expecting a much different relationship with Bottas than he had with former team mate Rosberg, as the two had a tense three year relationship while fighting for the world championship.
"It’s interesting to see how it’s going to go, how quick he’ll be, how quick he adapts, how he deals with pressure, all those little things," added Hamilton.
"I always say the most fascinating thing is the mind of my competitors. The limits they will go to to win. Some people would sell their mum to win a race (laughs), some would sell their soul and other things. It’s interesting to see where Valtteri will go.
"It’s going to be good, Finnish people are usually lovely, lovely people and very calm and very relaxed. He’s got lots of positives coming with him just being a Finn."
Fergal Walsh
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Replies (6)
Login to replyStigsSon
Posts: 35
Hamilton: "I always say the most fascinating thing is the mind of my competitors. The limits they will go to to win......" You mean like holding up your team mate in the hope he'll be passed??
bremgarten
Posts: 38
If you are referring to the final race last year I would like to point out a couple things.
a. Hamilton’s tactic to win the championship was perfectly legal.
b. It brought excitement into what could have been a boring close to the season.
c. Any aspiring world champion must be able to handle the situation – Rosberg did.
I notice there are quite a few anti-Hamiltonists posting here, which could bring fun into this season.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Legal by rules doesnt mean nice or that it should be considered okay, it was petty either way you see it. But then again, I wasnt really surprised: Hamilton has done things like this over and over again, and gotten away with it, too, even when it hasnt been legal moves. I think many of us wouldnt mind Hamilton if he was capable of some degree of decency, I certainly wouldnt, and I wont deny that he is a good driver, but I just dont find him likable.
Kenju
Posts: 2,629
"It’s going to be good, Finnish people are usually lovely, lovely people and very calm and very relaxed. He’s got lots of positives coming with him just being a Finn."
Generalizing based on ethnicity --> racist.
mclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
Of course the turdboy is the biggest racist on the track. When he lost to Alonso he cried it was because he was black. Only a racist will fall back on the race card at the first sign of losing a battle/argument.
bremgarten
Posts: 38
@ MCLARENFAN1968
Hamilton lost to Alonso?
In 2007, Alonso was already a well-deserved 2 times WDC and he tied with his rookie team-mate on points at McLaren.
Hamilton was classed as second in the championship, in front of Alonso, because it went down to the number of podiums and although both drivers had the same number of wins; Hamilton had the edge because he had more second places. In fact, if Hamilton hadn’t made a mistake in China, he would have won the championship in his rookie year. He’s the only driver to come so close in recent F1 history.
And, of course, 2008 was Hamilton’s year.