Valtteri Bottas believes he could still have been fighting with Lewis Hamilton for this year’s championship had possible results not slipped away through bad luck.
In recent races, the Finn has had to play a number two role to the Briton with the clearest example coming in Sochi when he gave up victory to his teammate and then post-Austin admitted he wanted Hamilton to wrap up the title.
It could all have been very different, however, had he passed Sebastian Vettel for the win in Bahrain, the Safety Car not been called in China and debris not been left on track in Baku and that was just in the first four races.
A collision in France, mechanical issues in Austria and late-race tyre problems have also cost him valuable points, too many for Valtteri to count up.
“I don’t know in deep detail how the points would have been,” Bottas said in Mexico. “I don’t like to calculate those things because in the end after each race that is the situation you’re in and you’re always trying to then make the best out of the future.
“But when you have many setbacks in a row then at some point it kind of becomes a bit of a joke and that’s for me how I felt at some point this year.
“If we would be now with not a big points difference or anything then for sure we would be both fighting flat-out for the championship but we’re not, he is and I am not.”
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A key stat Bottas is also hoping to end in the final three races is currently being the only driver of the top three teams yet to score a win after Kimi Raikkonen’s triumph in the US.
“My goal is for sure to try and be stronger. One day things will come together,” he explained.
“I think performance-wise every race this season I’ve been able to perform better than last year and that’s what I try to continue to keep doing with this team all the time, learning.
“I am very keen to be better next year and hopefully that will bring those results.”
