Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas is keen for the 2019 Formula 1 season so that he can finally put behind him last season in which he failed to win a race while his teammate Lewis Hamilton won 11 times and won the title.
Much has been written about Bottas' below par 2018 season and now it is time for redemption or possible ousting from the mighty Mercedes team as highly-rated Esteban Ocon waits in the wings for the Finn to slip-up.
Bottas told F1Only, "I am very happy to start a new season, because for me personally, 2018 did not happen as I had planned."
"I received a lot of criticism at times in 2018 but the truth is that it turned out to be positive for me because it has given me extra stimulus."
"I learned from last year that I could get stronger and I also found a lot of positive things that I did not necessarily see at the end of the year, but by pushing further, I saw them."
A host of rule changes for the forthcoming season could shuffle the pecking order, a fact that does not escape Bottas, "I'm glad everyone is starting from scratch in 2019, we're all on the same level an anything can happen. "
"There is a new season to come and I will give everything, everything I have. I am sure it will be interesting this year. I am full of energy and I look forward to it," added Bottas.
The Finn faces a huge task as his benchmark, Hamilton in the sister Silver Arrows, keeps raising his game which will make it tough for anyone to match.
Bottas vs Hamilton stats over the last two years that they have been teammates does not make good reading for Bottas fans, he has scored only three wins compared to Hamilton's 20 victories during the same period.
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