German GP: Valtteri Bottas says podiums no longer enough

After third place at the Red Bull Ring, Bottas has taken second at both Silverstone and Hockenheim, bringing him up to fifth in the F1 standings.

While content that he had achieved the maximum he could in Germany, where he fended off Lewis Hamilton in the closing laps, Bottas reckons Williams can now raise its sights and try to beat Mercedes to grand prix wins.

"I think today was the maximum result. We did everything perfectly and managed to keep Lewis behind in the end which got us an extra few points but in the future, we are definitely aiming for more and this is not the maximum," he said.

"I feel really lucky to be part of this. Last year we could not have expected to be three times in a row on the podium but we are now.

"This is the package we have and it's all down to hard work and we need to always keep aiming for more.

"Of course, it feels really good to be [on the podium] for a third time in a row but I think we're aiming for more than that now."

Bottas looked certain to lose second to Hamilton given the rate at which the Mercedes caught him on its new super-soft tyres in the final laps, but he was able to keep the title-chasing Briton at bay.

"I was already close with Lewis but he stopped and at that point there was still 20 or so laps to go. I knew it was going to be really close in the end," said Bottas.

"With a new set of tyres, 20 laps to go, he could make up the pit loss, and he did and he was riding my tail for the last few laps.

"For me it was just really, really important to always get a good exit for the DRS straights, so out of Turn 1 and out of Turns 2/3, and always brake as late as possible for the hairpin at the end.

"Also I was communicating with the team and I got all the support from the engineers to get the right engine modes for defending."