Bottas resolute on challenging Hamilton

Valtteri Bottas' task this season will be two-fold: proving he is worthy of his plum Mercedes drive, and giving Lewis Hamilton a run for his money.

As intimidating as the challenge may appear, the Finn is determined to give it his best, convinced of his ability to deliver the goods as he faces his three-time title winner team-mate.

"My goal is the championship, I really have the opportunity to get it," Bottas told Finnish broadcaster MTV.

"The immediate objective is to fight against him. We expect to be able to roll many kilometers in the winter tests and, if all goes well, we will have a reliable and fast car."

Anthony Hamilton warns Bottas of potential demise

Bottas spoke at length with reigning world champion and former Hamilton nemesis Nico Rosberg. And although the German didn't give away many pointers about how Hamilton's weaknesses, he did offer a fair amount of invaluable advice.

"It was good to talk to him. Nico has been in the box for a long time and knows perfectly how things work from the driver's point of view."

As a reminder, while Bottas will have his work cut out for him, the Finn is also on a one-year contract with Mercedes, which won't leave him with much margin of error in terms of performance.

GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends

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

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.