Mercedes inching closer to Ferrari - Bottas

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Valtteri Bottas believes that Mercedes' W08 is now almost just as good as Ferrari's SF70H in its ability to manage its tyres.

The Silver Arrows has struggled inconsistently with its Pirelli rubber since Melbourne, mainly troubled by the Italian manufacturer's Ultrasoft compound and its necessity to operate at the optimal temperatures.

"Our Mercedes is a very sensitive car," Bottas told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"But if we find the right setup it is really fast -- the difficulty is just finding that setup.

"Ferrari is really strong and has been better than us in managing the tyres, but we are improving as we saw in Montreal," he added.

Mercedes pushed 24/7 in run-up to Canada, reveals Wolff

Indeed, following a spectacular defeat in Monaco where Ferrari was head and shoulders above the German squad, Mercedes worked around the clock to understand and solve the tyre issues impacting the performance of its drivers.

Lewis Hamilton took a commanding win in Montreal after a scintillating performance in qualifying, and Mercedes conquered its first one-two finish of the season.

Although dominated by his team mate in Canada, Bottas was happy with his performance and how he has settled in after seven races with Mercedes.

"I will try to fight with Lewis at every track, and trying to beat him is a great motivation, but he's not an easy teammate," he said.

"Next there is Baku which I think will suit me. My goal is always to win races and one day the title, but it's really important for me to be consistent for the team," Bottas added.

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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.