Mercedes AMG F1 boss Toto Wolff underscored Valtteri Bottas' significant contribution to the Silver Arrows squad's success this season, despite not securing a win year-to-date.
The Finn's 2018 campaign has been a story of poor luck and team orders, both of which likely deprived the Mercedes driver of several winning opportunities.
Bottas held his own against title winner Lewis Hamilton in the early part of the season, contending for outright wins in Shanghai and Baku until unfortunate circumstances wreaked havoc on his chances of victory.
More opportunities for big points were squashed in France, where he was collected by Sebastian Vettel at the start, and in Austria where a hydraulics issue put him out of the race after just 13 laps as he was running second behind Hamilton.
Left in Hamilton's dust, the 28-year-old was relegated to a support role after the summer, although Wolff insisted on its importance in the team's overall achievements.
"Valtteri had a trickier season than Lewis, but he has improved his performance this year and played a vital role for this championship success," Wolff said, speaking at the team's celebration day at Brackley.
©Mercedes
"His contribution was enormous. Until the Baku incident where he lost 25 points, he was properly in the fight for the championship and since then it has gone against him.
"He's kept his dignity and played a big role in supporting the team, without losing his stature as a racing driver, and as a racing driver that can win."
Wolff sympathized with his driver's predicament, underlining the mental strength he displayed throughout.
"I think he's (had) an enormous mental struggle to know that you can't win anymore and you need to support your team-mate, and he's achieved that," added Wolff.
"And I think he will come back strong next year and will give Lewis and all of the others a run for their money."
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