Bottas targets form turnaround at US GP

Valtteri Bottas is targeting a performance turnaround at the United States Grand Prix, having previously struggled to match Mercedes Formula 1 teammate Lewis Hamilton at the Circuit of the Americas.

Bottas has trailed Hamilton by around four-tenths of a second in qualifying at the last two races in Austin, with Hamilton taking pole position on both occasions, while he has finished no higher than fifth in the US since joining Mercedes in 2017.

Hamilton, on the other hand, has an enviable record in Texas, having won all but two of the seven races held since 2012, as well as claiming the last three pole positions.

“There were many tracks in the past where I struggled but I managed to turn around many around already into my strong ones,” Bottas said.

“It’s what I’m planning to do here this weekend, because last year I was just lacking lap time both in qualifying and the race.

“But it’s a new weekend, I’ve learned massively since the last time we were here, so I’m looking forward to it.

"It’s a new opportunity and like I’ve done all year, I’m not setting any goals or having any doubts on my performance.”

Bottas heads into the weekend knowing the title race no longer in his hands, with Hamilton needing to score just four points to seal his sixth drivers’ world championship in Austin.

Asked how he will approach the weekend knowing that even with a perfect performance that he can still lose the title, Bottas replied: “It’s down to some weekends beforehand with lack of performance from my side or mistakes that this is the situation we have.

“From my side I come into this weekend very hungry for more wins, the Japanese Grand Prix very much reminded me why I do this sport, the feeling you get from a successful weekend is amazing and I want to feel that again this weekend.

“Regarding the points, there’s not much more I can do rather than do my very best, try to be better than last weekend.”