Valtteri Bottas replaces Bruno Senna at Williams
Discussion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/20524465
It will be interesting to see how he does next year against Pastor.
BBC said:
Valtteri Bottas says he is ready to justify Williams's faith after taking Bruno Senna's seat for next season.
The Finn replaces Bruno Senna and will partner Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, who drove for Williams in 2011-12.
Bottas, Williams's reserve driver in 2012, said: "I don't see any reason why I can't do well in Formula 1."
Founder and team principal Sir Frank Williams said Bottas was "one of the most talented young racing drivers we have ever come across".
Williams have picked Bottas after a string of impressive performances in many of the free practice sessions this year, when he often matched Maldonado's pace and rarely made mistakes.
Bottas, 23, said in an exclusive interview: "I think that was the key. Many times I was in the same pace as Pastor and sometimes even quicker.
"Sometimes, for sure, Pastor had the edge but that was to be expected - he has already two seasons in the car and knows the team as well. He's a really quick guy and I'm really happy I could match him sometimes.
"I think they have seen I am really quick, I am ready to work hard and to do everything I can to get a lot of points for the team.
"I know and the team has seen that there will be much more to come from my side as I get to drive the car more.
"It is not an easy job doing the Fridays. It is just one session, one set of tyres, job done. And there are always big gaps between the Fridays so it is not easy to keep the rhythm.
"The team has seen I can still improve a lot and we can do good results."
Bottas, who last raced when winning the GP3 feeder series in 2011, acknowledged that he was making a big step up next season.
"I know it won't be easy because you are competing against the very best in the world," he said.
"But once I get into the racing rhythm again I don't see any reason why I would struggle massively. I will keep improving all the time, that's for sure."
Williams said of Bottas that he expected "great things from him in the future".
And Bottas said he believed he could follow in the footsteps of countrymen Keke Rosberg, Mika Hakkinen and Kimi Raikkonen and win the world title in the future.
"I am here only for one reason. One day I want to be the world champion," he said.
"Everyone in Finland will be expecting me to be world champion one day because most of the Finnish drivers have been.
"But I am not going to take any pressure for that. I just think it is really cool that that is the way it is. For sure I will get a lot of support from Finland. It is my goal, too."
No surprise really, he's shown good pace in the practice sessions he's done.The Finn replaces Bruno Senna and will partner Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, who drove for Williams in 2011-12.
Bottas, Williams's reserve driver in 2012, said: "I don't see any reason why I can't do well in Formula 1."
Founder and team principal Sir Frank Williams said Bottas was "one of the most talented young racing drivers we have ever come across".
Williams have picked Bottas after a string of impressive performances in many of the free practice sessions this year, when he often matched Maldonado's pace and rarely made mistakes.
Bottas, 23, said in an exclusive interview: "I think that was the key. Many times I was in the same pace as Pastor and sometimes even quicker.
"Sometimes, for sure, Pastor had the edge but that was to be expected - he has already two seasons in the car and knows the team as well. He's a really quick guy and I'm really happy I could match him sometimes.
"I think they have seen I am really quick, I am ready to work hard and to do everything I can to get a lot of points for the team.
"I know and the team has seen that there will be much more to come from my side as I get to drive the car more.
"It is not an easy job doing the Fridays. It is just one session, one set of tyres, job done. And there are always big gaps between the Fridays so it is not easy to keep the rhythm.
"The team has seen I can still improve a lot and we can do good results."
Bottas, who last raced when winning the GP3 feeder series in 2011, acknowledged that he was making a big step up next season.
"I know it won't be easy because you are competing against the very best in the world," he said.
"But once I get into the racing rhythm again I don't see any reason why I would struggle massively. I will keep improving all the time, that's for sure."
Williams said of Bottas that he expected "great things from him in the future".
And Bottas said he believed he could follow in the footsteps of countrymen Keke Rosberg, Mika Hakkinen and Kimi Raikkonen and win the world title in the future.
"I am here only for one reason. One day I want to be the world champion," he said.
"Everyone in Finland will be expecting me to be world champion one day because most of the Finnish drivers have been.
"But I am not going to take any pressure for that. I just think it is really cool that that is the way it is. For sure I will get a lot of support from Finland. It is my goal, too."
It will be interesting to see how he does next year against Pastor.
A Scotsman said:
What's the name of Bottas' manager? Oh yes.. It's Toto Wolfe who is of course a major Williams shareholder and married to one of William's test drivers. Not that I'm suggesting there's any connection there of course.
You trying to make a conspiracy theory out of nothing here really aren't you? A Scotsman said:
What's the name of Bottas' manager? Oh yes.. It's Toto Wolfe who is of course a major Williams shareholder and married to one of William's test drivers. Not that I'm suggesting there's any connection there of course.
He's also faster than Senna. But don't let that get in the way of your theory.A Scotsman said:
What's the name of Bottas' manager? Oh yes.. It's Toto Wolfe who is of course a major Williams shareholder and married to one of William's test drivers. Not that I'm suggesting there's any connection there of course.
And he replaces a man who's entire career was based on being called Senna.
EDLT said:
And he replaces a man who's entire career was based on being called Senna.
Or Lalli really...Bottas is respected by a lot of people in the know. It isn't hyperbole.
If Senna really has US$14m in his pocket, it's a big gamble from Williams and he ought to be able to pick up a Force India seat for that money. If I were Di Resta I'd be a little concerned...
ArnageWRC said:
He must be bringing a fair wedge - I can't imagine Williams would give up the Millions Senna brought, if he wasn't bringing pockets full of cash.
Depends though, as Jow Saward pointed out it's about balancing the money from points vs the money from the driver.I imagine they must have looked at the fact that had it not been for Maldonado's win this year, Senna would have scored more points than Pastor. Or, put another way, if Maldonando hadn't have crashed so much they would have done MUCH better this year/Senna's not quick enough.
So, if they can take Pastor's cash and get someone in the other car who is quick and less crashy, and they believe that next year's car will be as/more competitive than this year's; they'd rather eschew the millions brought by the driver and go for the far more prestigious millions from points, which will bring more sponsors, more budget, better drivers etc etc and start their climb back up to the front.
rubystone said:
EDLT said:
And he replaces a man who's entire career was based on being called Senna.
Or Lalli really...Bottas is respected by a lot of people in the know. It isn't hyperbole.
If Senna really has US$14m in his pocket, it's a big gamble from Williams and he ought to be able to pick up a Force India seat for that money. If I were Di Resta I'd be a little concerned...
Until Williams get a known fast driver in the car none of us will know what the various levels of performance really are. And the chance for that may well have gone.
With the changes due for 2014 and Williams' recent history of not competing too well during periods of significant rule change, they may well come to look back on 2012 as a major missed opportunity.
A Scotsman said:
What's the name of Bottas' manager? Oh yes.. It's Toto Wolfe who is of course a major Williams shareholder and married to one of William's test drivers. Not that I'm suggesting there's any connection there of course.
I didn't know that - I'm not a fan of Toto Wolfe - giving Suzi a test driver role always was very questionable. Classed as an average club racer here in the UK and 7 yrs in DTM and she's only scored points in 1 race (7th) Toto Wolfe must bring a bucket load of cash to make Frank give her a test role. He reportedly owns 16% of the shares !
Bottas is different story - a lot of people think he's got some real talent.
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