[Antilochos]

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.

Hi Anti, I agree with all of that and I am aware of Bottas shortcomings against the opposition. He isn't the best all round driver, I don't think anybody would claim that. The point I was trying to make is even not being the best on race day he still has plenty of opportunity to win the WDC this year. He just needs to be out front the whole time and avoid situations where he has to do "damage limitation". Vettel pretty much did that for 4 years on the trot. Obviously that means qualifying ahead of Hamilton more often than not which will be a tough ask. But you have to say, he started well yesterday and all through his F1 career he's shown he is a great qualifier.

If he gets to the first corner in P1 he wins today, simple as that (reliability issues aside). I can't see any other outcome on this circuit as all he needs to do is gap the non Mercedes opposition and then control the pace from there. There was some overtaking in F2 yesterday, but that is a completely different ballgame as those cars don't have F1 like aero. I don't see F1 teammates being able to pass each other today.

You certainly have a point. But he still has a fight on his hand with Hamilton and Verstappen. Vertappen in a slower car but on a different strategy and Hamilton just being his usual fast during race round after round. Interesting in this will be the strategy; will Verstappen force Mercedes to change strategy for one of the cars and if so, wich one will it be?