Ralf Schumacher believes Bottas' win was down to Hamilton's floor damage

Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher doesn't believe he saw a "new Valtteri Bottas" in Australia despite his dominant victory in Melbourne.

Schumacher actually believes that Bottas' win on the opening race weekend of the F1 season was down to his team-mate and pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton, whose car was suffering with floor damage.

Bottas overtook his team-mate on the first corner and dominated from then on to claim his first F1 race victory since 2017.

"I would say that was just a good weekend for him - no more and no less," Schumacher said on his Starting Grid podcast. "I would not interpret that much.

"He showed in qualifying that he is on the level of Hamilton, but in the end he was still a tenth away because he has just made the famous mistake - without (Hamilton's damage) on his underbody and the start it would have been the usual picture I'm pretty sure.

"That's why, yes, it's good that he made it, but we do not have a new Bottas, which would be very surprising."

The brother of F1's most decorated driver, Michael Schumacher, believes Bottas' lack of consistency will prove his weakness this season if he is to challenge Hamilton for his title.

"Bottas definitely needs the momentum - no question about last year - and he's a driver anyway who can be as quick as an arrow, but not so constant, and not so constant under pressure," Schumacher added.