Bottas on cloud nine with Mercedes

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As he moves to a new chapter in his life as an F1 driver, Valtteri Bottas admitted he could not be happier his prospects of driving for Mercedes.

The Finn has yet to sample the team's new W08, something he will enjoy this afternoon at Silverstone, but his joy and jubilancy are detectable, even through his typically cool mannered Finnish character.

"It's a new chapter in my career, a new team, new regulations... new everything," he says.

"I've been waiting for a long time to get this car out on track and, although this is just a Filming Day, I'm looking forward to starting to test properly next week in Barcelona and to really understand the car that we've been given by everybody in Brixworth and Brackley.

"It has been a busy winter for me since signing with Mercedes and we have tried to make the most of the time we have had.

Bottas has been getting acquainted with his new task and environment, gradually setting in and learning the Mercedes ropes.

"We've been going day by day, making the most of each one, spending a lot of time in Brackley and going through as much stuff as possible with the engineers.

"I feel well prepared in such a short time but, of course, the learning curve is still steep and I'm getting more useful information every day. It's up to us to make the most out of the time together.

Like his peers, the Finn also devoted a considerable amount of time to his physical preparation, a necessity given the demands likely to be imposed on drivers this season.

"In terms of my physical preparation, I think I have done the most amount of training of any winter so far.

"I have done some good training camps and feel in the best shape I've ever been, definitely ready for the season ahead.

"Right now, it's a very exciting feeling for me. I want to say a big thank you to everyone in our factories for getting this car ready to go.

"It's been a massive effort and I've got a lot of respect for the shape we are in at the moment.

"But it's only the first step - and this is where the work really begins."
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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.