Bottas heads to the 'Finnish Grand Prix'

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Valtteri Bottas will perhaps get an extra boost of motivation from the grandstands this weekend in Hungary as he seeks to put himself and Williams back in the points.

The Grove outfit's current performance slump, which chief tech officer Pat Symonds is thoroughly investigating, has deprived the team's drivers from racing at the upper end of the field with Bottas scoring two points in Austria in the last two races while team mate Massa failed to finish in the top 10.

Bottas' best result around the tricky and twisty Hungaroring was in 2014 when he came home 8th, after qualifying third.

"The Hungaroring is probably the most intense track compared to the other events it falls around during the season, " said Bottas

"It’s much tighter with many slow speed corners and a very technical track to drive, so definitely not the easiest."

While the Williams driver is hoping his Mercedes-powered FW38 will perform well in Hungary, where his team has won seven times in the past, Bottas is sure to enjoy some good on-site support to boost his chances, as a strong Finnish community typically converges to Hungary to cheer on its idols.

"Budapest falls in the summertime and normally it’s very hot. It’s nicknamed the 'Finnish Grand Prix' because there can be tens of thousands of Finns at the race.

"I always really appreciate seeing the Finnish flag and feeling that support."

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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.