Mika Hakkinen makes claim over Valtteri Bottas and Mercedes team orders

Lewis Hamilton partly had Valtteri Bottas to thank for sealing his fifth Formula 1 title but his Mercedes team-mate won’t have loved the role he had to play in it, according to former F1 champion Mika Hakkinen. "If McLaren is building for the future, so too is Valtteri Bottas," Hakkinen said. "Victory in Azerbaijan was taken away from him by a puncture, and for much of the season, he had to support Lewis Hamilton as the Mercedes team came under pressure from Ferrari. Of course, Valtteri wanted to be winning, but one thing you learn quickly in Formula 1 is that the road to the top is not always straight. "I remember when I was racing against team-mates and great names such as Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell; I was not yet winning, but I learned a lot from watching them, working hard in the team and improving step by step. "It’s all about constantly improving, one day being quicker than your team-mate, sometimes slower. Valtteri is mega quick, fit and hard-working. With Mercedes behind him and the team of people around him including me, I have no doubt that he will take the next steps towards winning races and a World Championship title."

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