Bottas cranks it up: 'I’m going to beat everyone this year'

Whether it's a case of wishful thinking or a decision making process based on his own evidence, Valtteri Bottas has a clear target for 2019: to beat everyone!

After securing his first three wins in F1 with Mercedes in 2017, Bottas endured a disappointing campaign last year that concluded with a winless track record.

The Finn is pumped up however for the season ahead, fresh from a productive period of preparation and aware of what he needs to achieve to defend his plum Silver Arrows seat.

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On several occasions recently he's expressed his optimism over 2019, but last weekend he took his confidence up a notch.

"I got to Finland, got properly smashed a few times, did anything I wanted to do basically," he told the AP, explaining how he had dealt at the end of last year with his 2018 frustrations.

"Then I got a camera, I started photographing, it’s like a new hobby now so sometimes went for a walk somewhere and took pictures.

"I also travelled with my wife and some friends to South America, just for a proper holiday, didn’t think about Formula One.

"When I came back I decided that I’m going to beat everyone this year."

The 29-year-old from Nastola believes he will have what it takes to secure the title in 2019.

"Yes, that is my aim and I feel I can do it," he added.

"That’s the goal but how to get there, that’s going to be hard work.

"I feel it’s a nice fresh start.

"I’ve learned that the first half of the season is always very important. I started the year pretty well, just sometimes lost some points because of different things.

"I’m ready to go for it and try to be a better me."

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