Valtteri Bottas is already focused on next year after watching Lewis Hamilton clinch the Formula 1 championship in Turkey.
It was certainly a tale of two Mercedes’ in the wet at Istanbul Park as, on the one hand, Hamilton again showed off his skills by running a set of intermediates until they were essentially slicks and claimed victory by over 30 seconds.
In contrast, the Finn was caught out by the spinning Esteban Ocon at Turn 1, before going on to spin a total of six times in the race due to damage caused in later contact with the Renault driver on the opening lap.
“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, who eventually finished 15th, 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.”
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With Hamilton and Mercedes both wrapping up their seventh championships then, that means the upcoming tripleheader in the Middle East at least offers Bottas the chance to try and end 2020 on a high.
“For the [final three] races, sure, there’s no pressure, so let’s see if it makes any difference,” he added.
“I look forward to those races, in terms of trying to get a good result or more, more than that I’m looking forward to next year.”
