Hamilton ready to help Bottas win Monaco GP

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Lewis Hamilton says he'll do his best to lend a helping hand to Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in Sunday's Monaco GP, considering the Finn's better chances of winning the showcase event.

Hamilton's seventh-place position on the grid has put a win in the Principality "out of reach" according to the seven-time world champion.

Tyre warm-up issues in Saturday's qualifying weighed on Hamilton's performance while Bottas set the third fastest time in Q3 behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red bull's Max Verstappen.

After qualifying, Hamilton held a debrief with his team to lay out the reasons for his underperformance, with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff admitting that the Brackley squad had not provided its driver with the right car.

Read also: Mercedes 'didn't provide Lewis with the right car' – Wolff

The Briton will therefore head into the race with the aim of helping his teammate.

"I've got a really great job today to try and be the best team mate I can be today and try and see if I can help," he said.

"There's a potential for Valtteri to win this race so hopefully I can play a role in that."

However, should Hamilton find himself hot on the heels of Bottas, the Finn - who initially resisted letting his teammate by in the Spanish Grand Prix two weeks ago - says that he'll choose in priority his interests over "those of the team".

"As a driver, you always prioritise your own performance, your own race," he said.

"In situations like Barcelona, Lewis and I weren’t on the same strategy, I wasn’t fighting for the victory, so the situation was different.

"Other than that, generally speaking I always prioritise my race.

"It’s a team sport, but it’s also about the individual and between my interests and those of the team, I choose mine."

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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.