Bottas: I need to step up and turnaround Melbourne form

Valtteri Bottas admits he needs to step up his game if he is going to keep his Mercedes Formula 1 seat and is targeting an improved showing at the season opener in Melbourne. 

Bottas claimed three race wins and his first F1 pole positions on his way to third place in the drivers’ championship in his maiden campaign with Mercedes last year, finishing nearly 60 points behind champion teammate Lewis Hamilton. 

Despite enjoying a breakthrough season in the sport, the Finn is aware he needs to make further improvements this year if he is to persuade the German manufacturer to keep him on beyond 2018, with a host of other top drivers who are entering the final year of their respective contracts set to compete for the seat. 

“I do have big goals,” Bottas told reporters at a team event in the build up to this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. “I need to try and step up my game and I want to start the season well here in Melbourne. Last year I was third in the race so for sure I need to do better than that.”

Up until last year’s podium finish, Bottas had generally struggled around Albert Park, scoring a top five result on only one other occasion in 2014. He even failed to start the 2015 event after suffering a back injury during qualifying, which ruled him out of the race. 

Bottas admitted Melbourne is not one of his strongest circuits, but is determined to turnaround his fortunes in 2018.

“I haven’t found it to be one of my strongest circuits in the past, I’ve always had mixed results. That’s something I want to change. 

‘I can’t have bad races for myself, I want to be consistent and good in every place. So I think there were some good positives in the race last years so hopefully I can build on that and be quick in qualifying as well.”

Bottas added he needs to ensure he is at the top of his game in order to challenge Hamilton on a more regular basis this season. 

"I need to try and always perform on a good level, and especially if Lewis is having a bad day or a bad race for any reason then I need to be able to fight for the win of the race. 

“So I’m just going to really focus on my performance, go day-by-day, session-by-session, lap-by-lap and try to be at my best every single time I’m on track.”