M-Sport boss impressed with Bottas' speed and technique

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Valtteri Bottas left a lasting good impression on M-Sport boss Rich Millener after his rally debut in Lapland last week with the World Rally Championship outfit.

Driving a Ford Fiesta WRC in the Arctic Lapland Rally, Bottas' claimed a stage win and finished the event fifth overall, a performance that did not go unnoticed.

"As you’d expect with a Formula 1 driver, the speed was nothing to worry about for him, but his technique between the trees was really good – he really seemed to enjoy himself," Millener told Motorsport.com.

"One of the differences the engineers noticed was in the driving style. He didn’t go to full throttle all the time.

"As soon as these guys in the WRC have the grip they’re full throttle. But in a Formula 1 car you’re constantly looking and searching for grip, so you don’t always go straight to the [throttle] stop.

"He’s done well. For your first ever rally to go to a World Rally Car you’ve never driven before, working with a team you don’t know and a co-driver you don’t know reading notes to you for the first time, fifth is not a bad result in -30C."

Rosberg: Bottas 'a lot better' than what he showed in 2018

The M-Sport boss hopes to work with the Finn again in the future, and Millener is counting on another F1 driver to promote that idea.

"I would hope to see him back in the car, it’s good for the sport and interesting to see this crossover," he said.

"If we had the opportunity, we’d like to bring him to a test in Britain – but his calendar is very, very busy.

"Robert [Kubica] is a very good salesman for the WRC and he’s back in F1 this year so I’m sure we’ll see some interest!"

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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.