Bottas optimistic ahead of "solid update package" at Suzuka

Mercedes have been off the pace of Ferrari since the summer break but Valtteri Bottas is optimistic the set of upgrades the Mercedes team are bringing to Japan will be a step in the right direction.

Having not won any of the first three races back after the summer break Mercedes resumed normal service in Russia, with Lewis Hamilton winning ahead of Bottas for Mercedes' first one-two since Silverstone.

However, Ferrari were still quicker than the Silver Arrows for most of the weekend, with Hamilton even admitting it is going to be hard to catch the Scuderia in any of the remaining races. With Mercedes set to bring a fresh update for Suzuka Bottas is hoping it will bring significant progress.

“We have a pretty solid update package this weekend,” Bottas said as quoted by RaceFans.net.

“Obviously getting to try it tomorrow, [see] how it works, but in theory, it should give us more performance. How much actually that’s something we’ll find out.

“We have some rough numbers about it but it should be a decent step in terms if we’re talking about upgrade packages so far so we shall see.”