Bottas sure Stroll ‘will do fine’

Valtteri Bottas says he is confident new Williams team-mate Lance Stroll “will do fine” as a Formula One rookie.

Both drivers were confirmed as Grove’s line-up for the 2017 season, with the Canadian teenager set to graduate to the top flight straight from winning this year's Formula 3 European championship.

Stroll was quick to dampen expectations as he expects to make mistakes on his maiden campaign, but Bottas is not worried about the 18-year-old’s ability to quickly come to grips with the demands of grand prix racing.

“There are plenty of things to learn when you jump from any category,” the Finn said. “There are many more people in the team, there is a lot you to learn technically from the car so I will help in the ways I can. He has plenty of talent, I am sure he will do fine.”

Bottas himself made his F1 debut with Williams back in 2013, after being groomed by Williams. Stroll has followed a similar path as a development driver and often mentioned his new team-mate as the example he wants to emulate.

“I remember so well my first few races, you just learn by doing it,” Bottas added. “I don’t need to advise [Lance], he’s a talented driver.

“I’m sure he’ll learn a lot quickly and he’ll be up to speed very quickly. As a team, we’ll do everything we can to help him improve.”

INTERVIEW: Fernando Alonso: Why F1 is no longer just for heroes

F1i Classic: Brazil 1991 - Senna's pain and glory

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS - Mexico

FEATURE: Foul Play or Foul Language

Scene at the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter