Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is confident Valtteri Bottas can push team-mate Lewis Hamilton for the 2019 Formula 1 title. The 29-year-old Finnish driver started the campaign strongly and was leading after the opening four races, having picked up two wins – in Australia and Azerbaijan – and two second places, along with securing an extra point for recording a fastest lap.
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However, Hamilton has since come to the fore, with Sunday’s French Grand Prix win his sixth from eight races this term, which moved him 36 points clear of Bottas in the World Championship standings. It already looks a tall order for him – or anybody else – to prevent the British driver from collecting his sixth world title, but Wolff is refusing to dismiss Bottas just yet.
“With a decent start in some of the last races. he could have won two of them, and he knows that,” Wolff told reporters. “So I’m optimistic that Valtteri just needs one good weekend in order to come close to Lewis and not let him run away with the championship.”
