[Antilochos]

Besides, you seem to think you're the only one who thinks he's quick on here, I distinctly remember calling him a one lap specialist repeatedly. Where I have my doubts is over his race craft, which is often found wanting.

No, that's not quite accurate. I never said I was "the only one one here who thinks he's a quick driver", but there have been many occasions where people on here (and elsewhere) have blindly written the guy off as a "number 2" who does not have the ingredients to be a champion. I don't really buy that or think it is fair / true. Ok he has played the no 2 role in the past, but only when his own chances were long gone. He is blisteringly quick in his own right and I honestly think on his day he's one of the very quickest qualifiers out there (and I mean bar none) - he's shown that on quite a few occasions.  He beat Lewis by 0.5 seconds at Barcelona which I think was the first time I thought "this guy is properly fast".

And yes, my voice has sounded quite lonely in support of him on here over the last couple of years (from what I can remember anyway). OK, I admit he has looked ordinary in a lot of races when not leading from the front, but that doesn't mean he can't win a WDC! Vettel won 4 like that! All he needs to do is continually qualify at the front, after all he's proved he can win from the front on plenty of occasions. If he can start at the front then bagging a WDC is all about defending and being as consistent as possible when a win is not possible. Are there better wheel to wheel racers out there? Well yes, Max and Lewis have far more of a track record in that area, but if he can continue to qualify P1 and keep the lead into turn 1 then all the racecraft in the world won't beat him easily.

What makes people think VB winning a WDC beyond the realms of possibility? He definitely has the tools to be a force to be reckoned with. Racing drivers can learn a lot of things to improve race day performance but one thing they can't learn is to be naturally fast. The guy is naturally fast!

I was thinking of betting on him this year. The only thing that stopped me was uncertainty on the number of races we will get.

Hey Morini, I am one of those guys that does not see Bottas as a champion.
Weirdly enough I agree with everything you say and still think that Bottas will not be champion. The reason that stopped you from betting on him, is the only reason I would give him a change this year.

Bottas is fast, he knows how and is capable to get the speed that is needed for a fast lap. He can be as fast as anybody, no doubt. BUT, like I mentioned before, he has that craft on Saturday but he misses it on Sunday. Hamilton and Verstappen, they eat him up everytime it comes to a fight on sunday. Those two guys are prime examples of racers, they keep fighting and fighting, looking and adjusting things with that very strong focus to end up as number one. They believe they are number one. I don't see that on a sunday with Bottas. He has proven so many times he does not have hat spirit. Talking a about naturally fast? Lets talk about naturally racing. Bottas is missing out on that. Don't get me wrong, he is still a elite driver just like everyone in F1, but in that elite group there are some special drivers that can make a difference, no matter wich car they are in and you see them standing out. Bottas is not that. I like the guy, but there drivers like Hamilton, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Leclerc, Vettel, Saintz, Raikonen, Norris, even Perez. All of them I would say will or could beat Bottas. Certainly Hamilton and Verstappen are a whole league above him.

I hope he gets his championship this year, it is his only change, but seriously doubt he can get it. Even when he is sitting in the best car of the field, don't forget that fact.