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Hakkinen: Bottas not just a wingman but F1 is a team game

Hakkinen: Bottas not just a wingman but F1 is a team game

02-08-2018 20:00
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Jake Williams-Smith

Mika Hakkinen has come to the defence of Valtteri Bottas after his Hungarian Grand Prix exploits led to him being praised as a "wingman" by his team boss Toto Wolff. Whilst the comment was meant as no slight to Bottas, the Finn's position in the team has been a huge point of discussion in the aftermath.

Hakkinen, who himself went through a phase in his career in which he was not the main focus of the team he raced for, was quick to defend Bottas but acknowledged that sometimes an F1 driver has to put the team first despite their best wishes.

“Much has been said about the fact that Valtteri would be Hamilton’s “clutch bag,” he is quoted as saying by Formula Spy.

"However, every professional driver knows that sometimes during a race, season or career, he is asked to do the best for the team. It’s a team game.”

“It took seven years before I won a Formula One race for the first time. During that time I had really experienced teammates, such as Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell and Martin Brundle, and the teammates with whom I had about as much experience as Johnny Herbert and David Coulthard. Sometimes they were faster, sometimes they gave their support. For example, last year in Hungary, Lewis gave Valtteri his place back because Lewis knew he had received help.”

Bottas has been on the receiving end of some ill luck so far in 2018 and may well have been leading the championship at one stage but for his incredible Baku puncture and Austrian power unit failure.

“Valtteri is only halfway through the second season with Mercedes, and in his sixth F1 season. He has already won three races, and without the Azerbaijan puncture before the finish, he would be in a better position in the championship. If only the beginning of the season had gone a little differently…”