Wolff hoping for Bottas victory in Abu Dhabi

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says he hopes Valtteri Bottas can pick up the race win in Abu Dhabi after a season of misfortune and playing back-up to world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton made him a peripheral figure in the 2018 title race.

Bottas missed out on an almost certain race victory in Baku, suffering a puncture with just a few laps remaining of the race and a late safety car in China denied him the win in Shanghai.

Currently, the Finn is without a win in 2018 and is the only driver in the top three teams without one, something that Wolff is hoping will change at the Yas Marina season finale.

“The championship pressure is off so we can look at this as one race where we can really go for broke,” said Wolff.

Mercedes has taken every available win in Abu Dhabi since the start of the hybrid era in 2014, something that the Mercedes man is hoping is a good sign for his driver ahead of the race.