Can Bottas convince Mercedes to keep him?
Valtteri Bottas has another year at Mercedes, but the likes of Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo will have an eye on his seat for 2019. Will Bottas respond to that threat with the heroics that marked his early months at Mercedes, or with another slump?
A mistake amid a run of glowing results can bring a career to its knees. A moment of brilliance amid a dire succession of failures can offer a lifeline. Small details can define sporting careers. That is why elite athletes are constantly striving for perfection. And it is why Valtteri Bottas was disappointed with his maiden season with Mercedes.
His first half was nothing to be ashamed of. Having been parachuted into the reigning world champion team at short notice, following Nico Rosberg's shock retirement, Bottas acquitted himself remarkably well. He ticked off his first Formula 1 pole position in round three in Bahrain and followed that up with his first victory in Russia a race later, comprehensively beating his three-time world champion team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
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