Williams's Valtteri Bottas says he starts 2015 a better F1 driver

Williams driver Valtteri Bottas says his strong performance in 2014 has better prepared him to win his first Formula 1 grand prix this year

The Finn had a breakthrough season last year, scoring six podiums and finishing fourth in the drivers' championship as Williams returned to form.

When asked if he felt this would be the year that he would achieve his maiden F1 victory, Bottas said: "I'm ready for it. I know I will be a better driver than last year, I'm more ready for it personally than last year.

"I never doubted [myself] but it was nice to prove that with a good car, I can be there at the top fighting for wins.

"Now I have done 38 races. It's still not a lot but I have learned something from every single race.

"I always aim to be better in the next race. That's why I think I will be better, more experienced. I also feel really good in the team, with good engineers and good people, so I'm looking forward to it.

"We as a team have improved a lot. If we have a quick car, we can do it. There will be 20 opportunities and we are going to try and do it."

Bottas and Williams will need to beat the reigning world champion Mercedes, which showed ominous form in testing as it beat all rivals without having to use the supersoft tyres that others set their best laps on.

"I don't know yet if we have closed the gap," added the Finn, whose Williams team finished third in the constructors' championship last year, but ended the season as Mercedes' closest rival on merit.

"We want to try and make a good fight with them. It's still early days. Our goals are still the same. We want to improve from last year."