Wolff: "I think that Valtteri can win the championship"

Toto Wolff believes that Valtteri Bottas has the ability to beat team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, to a driver's championship in the future, but admits the task of overcoming the Brit who is in the form of his life will be tough.

In 2018 Mercedes continued their era of dominance by winning both the drivers and constructors championships. 

However, despite the dominance, Bottas had a disappointing season in which he failed to claim a single race victory, the first time since 2011 that a Mercedes driver hasn't won a race. 

The Finn is under pressure to improve or risk being replaced by Esteban Ocon who is already being tipped for his seat in 2020.

Wolff has defended his driver, though, saying he can defeat Hamilton.

"We are seeing the best Lewis that I've seen in the last six years, and there is a reason why he is a five-time world champion," Wolff said to GPFans. 

"Beating a five-time world champion at the peak of his activity, the peak of his performance is going to be very difficult and Valtteri knows that. But I think that he has it in him." 

"I think that he can win – he has proven it this year on a few occasions, but he had bad luck or was in a position where he could not win.

"I think if that turns into a positive momentum that is actually driving for the championship, I think that Valtteri can win the championship."