Breaking news
Formula 1
Bottas now focused on beating Vettel to runner-up
Valtteri Bottas thinks he can now beat Sebastian Vettel to second in the Formula 1 world championship, after slashing the points gap at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Sep 25, 2017, 10:38 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Vettel’s title hopes suffered a big blow in Singapore when he crashed out in the wake of a chain reaction incident involving Kimi Raikkonen and Max Verstappen as well.
The retirement has allowed title rival Lewis Hamilton to open up a 28-points advantage in the drivers’ standings, with Bottas now just 23 points further back.
While Bottas acknowledges that beating Hamilton to the title is a bit of a tall order now, he thinks that overhauling Vettel is still on the cards.
"I think that is definitely the next target for me – and, yes, it is possible,” explained Bottas, who finished third in the Singapore GP.
“This was good race for us, for me and Lewis in terms of points. The next couple of races are hopefully good for us.
“But we are not underestimating them [Ferrari]. For sure, they can still have strong weekends. Six races to go, there are still plenty of points to get, so it is a good target for me.”
While Hamilton’s tussle with Vettel will likely take priority for the team as things stand, Bottas still believes that his bosses will do what they can to help him edge out Vettel.
“The hunger to win and to finish strong is so big [at Mercedes] that definitely we want to be 1-2 in the drivers’ championship,” he said. “The priority is to get the constructors, but we want to be 1-2.
“For the team, it is important to win the drivers’ championship. I will just focus on trying to get Sebastian, and I am sure the team is behind me as well.
“I am not thinking too much about the gap to Lewis. It is quite big now but I just need to go race-by-race and close it until the end, if there are still possibilities or not.
“He is having a good run at the moment but I just need to raise my game and then it is quite open.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Williams 2018 seat shortlist down to three names
Next article Renault development rate puts "a smile on my face" - Sainz
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas "pretty confident" of staying for F1 2027 amid Colton Herta rumours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
16 h
Valtteri Bottas "pretty confident" of staying for F1 2027 amid Colton Herta rumours
Unwell Kimi Antonelli skips F1 Mexico GP media day
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Unwell Kimi Antonelli skips F1 Mexico GP media day
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
Formula 1
Canadian GP
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
More from
Ferrari
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Fred Vasseur reacts to Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc clash: “It’s a matter of respect”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
7 h
Fred Vasseur reacts to Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc clash: “It’s a matter of respect”
Latest news
Marc Marquez not celebrating MotoGP title yet: "I don't want to fall into the trap"
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
1 h
Marc Marquez not celebrating MotoGP title yet: "I don't want to fall into the trap"
Kimi Antonelli wants special photo with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on his wall after F1 title
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
Kimi Antonelli wants special photo with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on his wall after F1 title
Winners and losers from politically-charged MotoGP Malaysian GP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
2 h
Winners and losers from politically-charged MotoGP Malaysian GP
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe