Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has every confidence that their new driver, Valtteri Bottas, will be able to give three time world champion Lewis Hamilton a run for his money in the rapidly approaching 2017 Formula One Championship season.
For the past three years there has been a power struggle between Hamilton and Rosberg at the top of the sport's hierarchy which resulted in several on and off track moments between them.
Hamilton came out the victor with two world titles to Rosberg's one, but while acknowledging that Hamilton may well be the best driver in the world, Bottas has all the ingredients he needs to challenge for victories and world titles.
“Lewis is probably the best driver in the world at the moment,” Wolff told Sky Sports. “So much talent, so much speed and if he gets it together on the weekend, in my opinion, he's almost unbeatable.”
“But Valtteri has all the ingredients and we haven't seen him in a car that's capable of challenging for championships, that's a different step, and some drivers have developed in the right direction and some have not. Certainly Valtteri can give him a run for his money.”
Hamilton himself has already warmly welcomed Valtteri to the team and according to Wolff, the duo get on well together…
“In terms of the relationship, Lewis actually said to me he gets on very well with Valtteri. He's used to working with Finns, he was with Aki (Hintsa) for a long time, and so I think the combination works well for the team.”
