Bottas will be a “more complete” F1 driver in 2020

Valtteri Bottas feels he will be a “more complete” driver when the 2020 Formula 1 season resumes thanks to his added preparation in the prolonged break.

The season-opener in Austria on July 5 will mark the first F1 race in seven months, while drivers have not driven their cars competitively since the six days of pre-season testing in Barcelona at the end of February.

Bottas was determined to utilise the extra time due to the coronavirus-enforced hiatus to his advantage, and in a recent interview with Sky Sports, the Finn said he feels fitter and fresher than ever before heading into the upcoming campaign.

"Three or four weeks ago, I did a fitness test that I normally do once or twice a year, and it was my best ever," Bottas explained.

"As a driver, you don't get that many months normally to focus on your fitness, it's normally just the winter break.

"But now it's been an extended break, and I was really systematic on the training, and it was amazing to see the results and how good you feel. I really feel that this unexpected extra time off was only good for me.

"That's a rare time that as a driver, [to] get so much time off and actually do different kinds of things, and also time to focus on yourself - improving yourself physically and mentally.”

Bottas claimed his best finish in F1 last season by sealing runner-up in the championship to Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, taking four victories in the process.

After trailing some changes to his driving style during winter testing, Bottas reckons he can turn in an even greater challenge to Hamilton in the shortened 2020 campaign.

"I feel with the things that we've been working on with the team and with my core engineering team in terms of my driving style, I have a couple of new things in my driving style toolbox that I could use," he added. 

"I could prove that in Barcelona testing - I could feel in some types of corners I made good steps, and I've been focusing on that during the lockdown, driving other things.

"I just feel I'm more complete as a driver, and physically I'm peaking now, so hopefully that can really translate. I'm really confident, mentally, and in a good place, and I'm going to go all-out, no doubt."