Bottas: For sure there will be friction

Bottas acknowledged in an interview, “If Lewis and I are able to battle harder on track and go wheel-to-wheel then for sure there will be friction. If it comes to winning a race or defending a certain position then you need to go for it."

“We have spoken with the team about Nico’s season; what kind of things he did, how much he worked with the team, the things he focused on and beating Lewis."

“But I don’t see the need to speak to Nico. By working in my own way, and my direction with the team there is no reason why we cannot fight for the title.”

Bottas has a year-by-year deal with Mercedes, suggesting the team are not 100% convinced that he is their man. Daniel Ricciardo's flirtatious advances towards the Silver Arrows has surely not gone by unnoticed by the Finn, while some handy Mercedes junior drivers - Esteban Ocon and Pascal Wehrlein - are waiting in the wings.

Bottas is well aware of the situation, "Everybody wants to be in the best car and that is normal. Everybody wants to move up in their career and at the moment I am in the best seat possible and I am very proud of that and I want to make the most of it."

"I am much calmer than last year going into the season. I know that I can win races, I know how much I learned, and there is so much support from everyone who wants me to do well."

"Yes, I don’t have a contract for 2019, but this year versus last year is definitely an easier feeling for me and I just have to go for it."

“I have a very high target for the year and if I can get to those targets, or even near, then I hope the future will be okay,” added Bottas, no doubt hoping that things become frosty between him and his teammate because that would mean the Finn's season is going according to his plan.