SEPTEMBER 15, 2018

Bottas happy to keep playing team role

Valtteri Bottas says he is happy to help Lewis Hamilton win the 2018 world championship.

Valtteri Bottas says he is happy to help Lewis Hamilton win the 2018 world championship.

It has been a different story recently at Ferrari, where championship contender Sebastian Vettel's teammate Kimi Raikkonen is leaving and apparently reluctant to play a supportive role.

But Finn Bottas, who is championship leader Hamilton's Mercedes teammate, said in Singapore: "I understand that Lewis is fighting for the title while my chances are very small.

"So if I can help him do it, I will."

Bottas' 'team supportive' driving at Monza enraged some of Ferrari's fans, with team boss Maurizio Arrivabene even describing him as a "butler" rather than a driver.

The Italian apologised for the remarks.

But Bottas said: "Everyone is free to express their thoughts. I was amused by some of them.

"What really matters to me is how I perform and how the team is working. Both drivers work for the team and although the team doesn't want to spoil my race, I want to help where I can.

"For example at Monza I drove a longer first stint, but at the end of the race I was able to attack on fresh tyres and eventually went on the podium. The team wants us both to succeed," he added.

(GMM)