Valtteri Bottas is heading into 2019 Formula 1 season with a renewed optimism after reflecting on the toils of last year.
The Finn enjoyed a strong start to the 2018 season and could have had victories in three of the first four races but bad luck, particularly in Baku, set the tone of what was to come as Bottas went the entire year without a win.
Now the pressure is on as Esteban Ocon sits in the Mercedes garage as reserve driver poised to benefit should Valtteri struggle again, but that is not on the mind of the 29-year-old as he looks ahead.
“I am excited that everyone starts with zero points,” he was quoted by GPFans.com. “We are all on the same line and 2019 can bring anything, that’s exciting.
“It’s going to be a new season ahead and I’m going to put everything I have for this year, all in. I’m sure it’s going to be interesting.”
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The combination of poor results and playing a support role to teammate Lewis Hamilton meant Bottas cut quite a forlorn figure at the end of last year.
However, the few months of winter break have helped the three-time race winner as he looks to make progress.
“I am very happy to start a new season, because for me personally, 2018 did not go the way I wanted to,” he stated.
“There was quite a bit of criticism at some stages of 2018, but that’s actually been a positive thing for me because it’s given me an extra boost!
“I’ve taken all the points I can learn from last year to come back stronger and I also found many positives, which I maybe didn’t see at the end of the year, but now digging deep I can see those. I can build on all of that for 2019.”