Lewis Hamilton: It’s Too Early To say Bottas Is My Main Title Rival

Lewis Hamilton found Valtteri Bottas clinch the lead from his hands when the Finn won the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Not as crazy a race that one saw in the past installations, one couldn’t say that the Baku contest was lame or any less thrilling. With Bottas winning and Lewis Hamilton bagging a fighting second, the Mercedes 1-2, the fourth of the year, prevented Ferrari from winning yet again.

It’s rather interesting that four Grands Prix this season, there’s not been a single race that the Scuderia stable has been able to win.

But that said, Lewis Hamilton’s post-race comments, rather observations regarding the contest have added more spark to the 2019 Baku race. Lewis Hamilton, it must be remembered, is a five-time world champion. He’s currently fighting for a sixth world title and one of the strongest contestants in this title fight- one may not see clearly- is actually his teammate, Valtteri Bottas.

But that said, does Lewis Hamilton himself feel that Bottas is a title rival, so far?

Actually, the Briton feels that the 2019 title fight isn’t only Mercedes-driven fight. He says that it’s a bit too early to state that Valtteri is the only main rival to the fight to the end.

Here, he shared his candid observations post the 2019 Baku race where the matter of world championship was touched upon:

“No, it’s far too early to say one person is the title rival. The Ferraris, as I said, this weekend they had the pace in practice and in qualifying. I think if both cars delivered as we delivered I think we would have been a lot closer. We’ll still have to stay on our toes. We didn’t bring an upgrade this weekend and Ferrari did. So it’s a little bit of a surprise, performance-wise, because at some stage we will bring an upgrade.”

In fact, where the past two races stand, Sebastian Vettel, who bagged his second podium in as many races could well be in for some exciting finishes in the upcoming stages. This could then become a three-way fight, involving Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton.