Bottas looking forward to ‘racing without pressure’ after losing F1 title fight

Valtteri Bottas is already turning his attention towards 2021 and enjoying the final three races of the season now that the pressure is off having lost the Formula 1 title fight to Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.

The Finn needed to outscore Hamilton by eight points at last weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix in order to keep his slim title hopes alive, but he endured a nightmare race, spinning six times on his way to finishing 14th and being lapped by Hamilton, who clinched his seventh world championship with a brilliant victory.

But Bottas is excited to head into the remaining three rounds in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi with the pressure off now that both world championships have been decided.

“It was a messy race, a disastrous race, I was pushing as hard as I could, because there was nothing to lose for me,” Bottas said.

"So when I dropped back I was still pushing as hard as I could. I made mistakes, and, for sure, with the damage, it all made it quite tricky, it could be the most difficult race I’ve ever had in Formula 1, and the result as well.

“For the [final three] races, sure, there’s no pressure, so let’s see if it makes any difference. I look forward to those races, in terms of trying to get good result or more, more than that I’m looking forward to next year.”

Bottas, who started 2020 in perfect fashion by winning the seaosn-opener in Austria, admitted Hamilton won the title “in style” and was thoroughly deserving of his record-equalling achievement.

Hamilton wrapped up the title with three races to go having claimed his 10th win in 14 races, with Bottas managing just three victories in contrast.

Bottas could yet eclipse his career-best tally of four race wins in a season if he were to win each of the last three races, while he would match it with two victories.