Hamilton: No plans to give up race win to Bottas

Lewis Hamilton insists he has no plans to concede a race victory to Mercedes Formula 1 teammate Valtteri Bottas before the end of the 2018 season.

The recently-crowned five-time world champion revealed Mercedes’ decision to tell Bottas to give up his position while leading the Russian Grand Prix was “one of the most difficult moments” of his title-winning campaign.

Hamilton went on to seal the 2018 championship with two races to spare after a fourth-place finish in the Mexican Grand Prix, though he refuted suggestions Mercedes could ask him to return the favour to Bottas - who yet to win this year - now the drivers’ title fight is wrapped up.

Asked if Mercedes will repeat its Sochi team orders call in either of the remaining two races in Brazil or Abu Dhabi, Hamilton replied: “The team are not going to make that call.

“If I’m in that position - It’s not something I’ve asked Valtteri if he wants that - but I don’t think he’s going to want that. He’s going to want to win it in his own way.

“So I don’t know if I’ll be doing him any favours in the sense of giving him a win, I don’t think he needs that I think he thinks he can do it himself.

“All I can do is try and make sure I’m supportive throughout the process and the weekend. I’m always really open with my set-up, so I’ll continue to do so.

"It would be great for Valtteri to finish on a strong note, feel better in the car and finish off strong," he added. 

"I think last year he finished off strong and that really set him up for the beginning of this year, which I think he started off strong again, so that is always naturally a good thing."

Hamilton heads into this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix having claimed just one previous win at the Interlagos circuit, which he achieved in 2016.

Prior to his victory in 2016 Hamilton’s best result at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace had been consecutive second-place finishes behind then teammate Nico Rosberg in 2015 and 2014, while a crash in qualifying last year forced him to start from the back of the grid.

The Briton said “lots of different circumstances” have played a role in him not taking more victories at what he described as a “difficult” track, adding he is determined to increase his tally this year.

“I don’t really know why I’ve not won here more. I can’t really explain. It’s a difficult track," he said.

“There’s lots of different circumstances, I can’t really answer it but I’m grateful for the one win I have and naturally I want to win more.”