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Webber and Coulthard unsure of Bottas true potential

Former Red Bull team mates Mark Webber and David Coulthard believe the jury is still out on whether Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas has the ability to challenge team mate Lewis Hamilton.

The Finn isn't exactly an unknown quantity in Formula 1 but the lack of a winning car in his four-year career makes evaluating his true potential a difficult exercise.

"We don’t really know much about Bottas," Coulthard told the Daily Mail.

"We know he’s talented, Finnish and capable of answering questions in a nice, polite way but it would be great if we had friction between him and Lewis.

"Lewis isn’t fazed by any of his team-mates because he knows he has that speed advantage.

"He has said he gets along well with Bottas which probably means he hasn’t been challenged by him in the engineering office or seen anything on the data that scares him.

"The evidence of Bottas at Williams suggests he’s not at Hamilton’s level, but maybe Bottas is suddenly going to appear as this winning machine that nobody saw coming."

Bottas: 'I won't panic if Lewis is quicker'

Aussie Mark Webber seems equally unsure of what Bottas can deliver. While hoping for a broadening of the fight at the top, the former F1 winner and WEC champion believes the title will ultimately be disputed by Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen.

"First of all, I am sorry that the reigning world champion is not with us," Webber said.

"Nico Rosberg has chosen to enjoy his family, friends and all the fun in life that Formula1 can't offer. I myself now lead such a life and it's fine.

"The title fight will go in 2017 between Hamilton, Vettel. Ricciardo and Verstappen. Bottas I'm not completely sure is ready for the title."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.