10:02 – Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says that Valtteri Bottas needs to challenge for the title in 2018 and has backed him to deliver a stronger second season with the team.
Bottas joined Mercedes from Williams for 2017, following Nico Rosberg’s retirement as World Champion, and experienced a mixed first season onboard the Silver Arrows.
He classified third in the standings, with three victories and four pole positions, but finished almost 60 points adrift of team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who stormed to a fourth crown.
After his hopes of fighting for the 2017 title faded amid a tough post-summer break spell, Wolff reckons Bottas has what it takes to put together a more consistent challenge this year.