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Bottas: 2017 F1 title battle with Hamilton could get 'tricky'

Valtteri Bottas expects relationships with Formula 1 rivals, and Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, to get "more tricky" as the 2017 season intensifies.

Bottas's first F1 victory in last weekend's Russian Grand Prix prompted warm congratulations from other drivers, but he expects the pleasantries will be shortlived.

The win moved Bottas towards title contention - he is now within 23 points of Ferrari's championship leader Sebastian Vettel and just 10 behind Hamilton.

Asked what Hamilton had said to him as they met each other in parc ferme at Sochi, Bottas said: "He congratulated me. It's very, very nice of him to be very professional about everything so far.

"He's been in front of me. He's done a great job. I think we're working well as a team.

"It's going to be a long year with a lot of fighting with all these cars.

"At some point things might get a bit more tricky on track - and if and when it comes to the championship fight, it might be less talking and more fighting on track."

While Mercedes bosses think Bottas will be unaffected by taking his maiden win, the Finn believes he will gain confidence from the result.

"Getting the first win is something special," Bottas said.

"You always believe in yourself because there's no point being here or doing this if you don't believe in your skill. If you think that you are not able to win then definitely you should stay home.

"But actually getting the confirmation and getting the result [is important].

"Because results are what matters in this world. How many points you score, how many races you can win, how many times you be on the podium - that's the name of the game.

"And getting that first win, it definitely gives me confidence that I can do it even though I've always known I had the ability.

"But now it's done, I just want to do it again and again.

"It's not that simple this year. It's going to be always a massive fight at least for the first half of the year.

"It's going to be a fight with four different drivers."

Zdroj: autosport.com