Zimpapers Logo

LONDON. – Mercedes are confident the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas will not deteriorate if they are both in the hunt for Formula One’s world title as the season progresses.

Bottas suggested he could join his Mercedes team-mate and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in the battle for the Drivers’ Championship after claiming an impressive maiden F1 victory in Russia on Sunday. The Finn now trails Hamilton by just 10 points, with Vettel leading the standings by 13, after an opening four rounds in which Mercedes and Ferrari have claimed two wins apiece.

Despite finishing off the podium in fourth, Hamilton made a beeline for Bottas to congratulate him immediately after the race, with the pair enjoying a friendly team-mate relationship so far. Initial cordial relations between Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at Mercedes eventually soured amid the weight of head-to-head title fights. – Sky Sports.