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Bottas hails ‘real team player’ Hamilton after Hungary swap

Valtteri Bottas called Mercedes Formula 1 team-mate Lewis Hamilton a "real team player" after the Briton stuck to a deal to swap positions on the final lap of Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Bottas was told to let Hamilton past during the race at the Hungaroring in order to allow the Briton to try and pass the leading Ferrari drivers ahead, believing his pace to be better.

Mercedes told Bottas he would be given third place back if Hamilton could not overtake the Ferraris, with the two drivers swapping places at the final corner despite Bottas having dropped far back from his team-mate.

The move cost Hamilton three precious points in the championship battle against Sebastian Vettel, but Mercedes stressed it was the right decision to stick to its principles.

"We managed to do it in the end. I'm really glad," Bottas said.

"For sure it's not easy for Lewis to give up a podium pace in the last lap, but that was kind of the deal, so really respect for that.

"Not every team-mate would do that I think. That shows that Lewis is a real team player as well. As a team we tried to maximise today with that kind of swapping.

"We, unfortunately, couldn't gain anything, but we tried. So I think it was the right thing to do."

The position swap also pointed to a change in Mercedes' approach, having previously asked Bottas to move aside for Hamilton in Bahrain and not then made the pair switch back despite no positions being gained.

Bottas said he felt more a part of the Mercedes team after getting more races under his belt, and that he expects his good partnership with Hamilton to only improve.

"For sure, 10 races now, you are definitely more part of the team than just a couple of races. Feeling very much part of the team," Bottas said.

"I think the teammate relationship I have with Lewis is really good. Today was I think a perfect example of what you can do when you have that trust, when you have that respect between the team-mates.

"The team can really rely on both of you to try things like this today, try and get the other guy to attack the cars in front if the other is trying but can't do it.

"I'm feeling good. I think it's only going to get better."

Zdroj: crash.net