The role Bottas hates but must embrace
Valtteri Bottas finished 2018 fifth in the Formula 1 points and with no race victories, and called it his "worst season so far". But could a change of attitude for next year help him improve and make himself more valuable to Mercedes or a rival team?
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Valtteri Bottas didn't like being referred to as Lewis Hamilton's "sensational wingman" by Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff after this year's Hungarian Grand Prix. No racing driver would, and his response revealed just how difficult it is to accept taking one of the most difficult jobs in motorsport.
"Wingman hurts" was Bottas's response. It was an innocent comment from Wolff that reflected the race situation at the Hungaroring, where Bottas had held second place behind his teammate before a painful slump to fifth in the final six laps came about due to a combination of tyre troubles and on-track clashes, rather than a preordained status within the team.
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