Valtteri Bottas Knows Lewis Hamilton’s Weakness

According to Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas has figured out how to beat Lewis Hamilton. The German driver, finally came up on top against arch-nemesis Hamilton to win the 2016 world title. But then, he stunned everyone by retiring from the sports, mere days after winning the championship.

The move sent Mercedes into a tizzy and hurriedly drafted in Bottas as a replacement. Initially, the Finn struggled alongside Hamilton in 2017 and 2018, with the latter season being one of his worst. However, 2019 witnessed a completely different Valtteri Bottas, a much more confident one. He is currently leading by a point to his teammate after just four races.

Rosberg noticed an “interesting dynamic” between the Mercedes drivers this year. According to the 2016 World Champion, the trick is to not provoke Lewis Hamilton.

Speaking to SID news agency, he said “You should never annoy Lewis. If he gets angry, then he gets more motivated and concentrated and bites like a terrier. Valtteri has got the hang of something that I only found in my last season,”.

Rosberg even noted Hamilton’s ‘tame’ attempt to gain the upper hand in the wheel-to-wheel battle with Valtteri Bottas in Baku. Hamilton also confessed that he was “too friendly”.

“I basically gave it to him,” said the Briton. With Barcelona coming up this weekend, things can possibly change in the 5-time World Champion’s favour. F1 legend Gerhard Berger even said that Hamilton is on a level “similar to that of Ayrton Senna”.

However, Berger also sang praises of Valtteri Bottas. Speaking to Speed Week, he said: “I have to say that I am deeply impressed with Valtteri Bottas.

“He’s a cool, very nice guy. Calm, but very fast,” he said.

“Hamilton’s advantage is his patience. He does not want to win in the first corner. He can wait — and then win.”