Rosberg advises how to beat Hamilton: "He just has to put it together"

Nico Rosberg has addressed what Valtteri Bottas needs to do to keep Lewis Hamilton from an eighth world title in 2021. According to the one-time world champion, the Finn has the right skills to beat Hamilton, but the main thing is to make all the ends meet.

"The most important thing is to pounce when Lewis has these small dips of weaknesses," Rosberg said in an analysis for Sky Sports. The former Formula 1 driver knows what it's like to beat Hamilton, as he succeeded in 2016 after which he also retired immediately. "If you pounce in that moment, it can really rattle Lewis and it can prolong that weakness for a couple of races. Those are the moments you just need to maximise."

It is hugely difficult to boss the terribly consistent 36-year-old Briton around over an entire season. Rosberg did manage it five years ago. It is not inconceivable, according to the analyst of not inconceivable, that Bottas can do the same. "Valtteri, he's got many bits, he just needs to put them together into one season. His qualifying speed, that's really been great. So if he can keep that going in this way, maybe pull it out of the bag a couple of more times, I think you're already in a good situation there," he explained.

Hamilton always hits back

One of the biggest areas of improvement for the Mercedes driver whose contract was extended by 12 months last year is his starts. "Then he needs to get together his starts, his racing, and he has to win every single one of those races (where Hamilton struggles) to keep Lewis down in the ropes for as long as possible because when he comes back, and he always does, he'll come back with a bang," Rosberg said.