Valtteri Bottas says Monaco will be hardest race of F1 rookie year
Valtteri Bottas expects the Monaco Grand Prix to be the toughest challenge of his Formula 1 rookie season with Williams
The Finn, who has made an impressive start to his F1 career despite failing to score points in an uncompetitive Williams, has never raced in Monaco.
GP3 did not run in Monaco when Bottas won the championship in 2011 and he did not drive on Friday morning last year when he was reserve driver for Williams.
But he remains upbeat about his chances and is relishing what awaits him.
Asked by AUTOSPORT if Monaco would be his hardest weekend of the year, Bottas replied: "I think so because the track is so challenging.
"To get the perfect lap time in qualifying, [this] is the most difficult track of the season and qualifying is the most important here.
"It's tricky, but I feel very well-prepared."
MACAU EXPERIENCE HELPFUL
Although he has never driven in Monaco, Bottas believes that his experience of street circuit racing in Formula 3 in Macau will be an advantage.
The Finn raced there from 2009-11, finishing third in the '10 running of the Macau Grand Prix.
"It is very tricky and has a lot of similarities in some places," said Bottas of Macau.
"When I went to Macau for the first time, there were no problems learning the circuit or with the walls or anything."
Bottas has completed significant mileage around Monaco in the Williams simulator.
This, combined with watching onboard footage and reviewing data from last year, means that he feels well-prepared.
"I know the way around quite well and should be aware of all the bumps and the kerbs.
"I just need to build up in practice and try to find the limits as soon as possible."
Bottas added that he had sought advice from his mentor, 1998 Monaco Grand Prix winner Mika Hakkinen and will continue to do so during the weekend.
Previous article
Jenson Button wants to keep freedom over F1 future
Next article
Sergio Perez has no doubts McLaren will soon be winning again in F1
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Valtteri Bottas |
| Author | Edd Straw |
Albert Park Circuit Modifications Project
Mercedes-AMG F1 Team: Bahrain GP Race Debrief
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of car-racing titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Are we at peak F1 right now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak
How crucial marginal calls will decide the Red Bull vs Mercedes battle in F1 2021
The longer Red Bull can maintain a performance edge over Mercedes, the better the odds will be in the team’s favour against the defending world champions. But as the Bahrain Grand Prix showed, many more factors will be critical in the outcome of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship
How Williams’ new structure adheres to a growing F1 trend
Williams held out against the tide for many years but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, the age of the owner-manager is long gone
When a journeyman driver's F1 career lasted just 800m
Nikita Mazepin’s Formula 1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix lasted mere corners before he wiped himself out in a shunt, but his financial backing affords him a full season. Back in 1993 though, Marco Apicella was an F1 driver for just 800m before a first corner fracas ended his career. Here’s the story of his very short time at motorsport’s pinnacle
The nightmare timing that now hinders Mercedes
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton took victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite, for a change, not having the quickest car. But any hopes of developing its W12 to surpass Red Bull's RB16B in terms of outright speed could not have come at a worse time.
How Raikkonen's rapid rise stalled his team-mate's F1 career climb
Kimi Raikkonen’s emergence as a Formula 1 star in his rookie campaign remains one of the legendary storylines from 2001, but his exploits had an unwanted impact on his Sauber team-mate’s own prospects. Twenty years on from his first F1 podium at the Brazilian GP, here’s how Nick Heidfeld’s career was chilled by the Iceman
