Valtteri Bottas has been forced to play second fiddle to Lewis Hamilton ever since he arrived at Mercedes. Many believe this is the main reason why Bottas never made a run for the title, which is something the driver himself believes he could have done if the team had allowed him.
Speaking with reporters ahead of this week’s Russian Grand Prix, Bottas was asked at one point whether he will be allowed to aim for the first place considering Hamilton is engaged in a tight race for the championship with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The question was prompted by the fact that Bottas had his last Formula 1 win at the same venue one year ago.
“I don’t know really, I need to ask [Mercedes team principal] Toto [Wolff],” Bottas said.
The 32-year-old driver then added that he felt like he wasn’t allowed to win earlier in the season.
“At least earlier in the season, I felt like I wasn’t allowed anymore for the contention, but you never know. We go race by race,” he explained.
Valtteri Bottas is currently holding the third position on F1’s 2021 Driver Standings with 141 points. He had one pole position and made the podium eight times this season but failed to win a race.
Following the 2021 F1 season, Bottas will leave Mercedes and join Alfa Romeo, where he will presumably be the number one driver.
