Bottas aiming to improve qualifying performances in 2019

Valtteri Bottas believes he needs to improve his qualifying performances next season in order to challenge for a world championship with Mercedes. The Finn has largely been a peripheral figure in 2018, playing second fiddle to teammate Lewis Hamilton in the latter stages of the season.

Bottas was resigned to playing wingman for teammate Hamilton at the end of the season in order for the Brit to capture a fifth world championship as soon as possible, something that he admitted was inevitable having underperformed earlier in the year.

"Performance-wise, we've been quite close," he told Motorsport.com.

"There have been many times, especially earlier in the season, when I beat him in the qualifying, and also at the end of last year.

"I think the first half of the year I think the luck wasn't on my side. And then afterwards, we realised I'm not fighting for the title any more ... so then it's impossible for me to fight for the championship.

"When I lost my opportunity for the title this year, I tried to help him a little to win the world championship. But I'm already looking forward to fight again next year."

Bottas is still yet to win a race in 2018, the only driver in the top three teams yet to do so. He came close in China and Baku only for unfortunate luck to take those chances away from him. Reflecting on a tough season, the 29-year-old identified qualifying as the key aspect he needs to fix in 2019.

"I need to improve my performance in qualifying if I want to try and beat Lewis. He's a very good qualifier and, if he's starting ahead in the race, then he always has the upper hand.

"He's strong in all the areas. I think in some areas we are similar, and in some areas he's better.

"What qualifying is all about is fine details and many things need to come together, so I just need to keep working on all the details."