Abu Dhabi: Valtteri Bottas, the Williams driver, has the potential to become Finland’s fourth Formula One world champion despite not having won a Grand Prix yet, according to his legendary compatriot Mika Hakkinen.
The 47-year-old is proud to be part of the management team of Bottas, who finished fifth in the drivers’ championship after coming a disappointing 13th at Sunday’s Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old is in his third F1 season, having soared from a 17th-place finish in 2013 to fourth last year, although he is winless after 56 races.
His progress bodes well for him emulating the global triumphs of his fellow Finns Keke Rosberg (1982) and Kimi Raikkonen (1997), 1998 and 1999 champion Mika Hakkinen told Gulf News at Yas Marina Circuit.
“First of all, I am very proud to be part of his management team and it’s great to take care of a driver who is a great Formula One driver. If you talk to [Williams principal] Sir Frank Williams, he can see he’s going to be a world champion through his performances, despite him not winning yet.
“Him becoming world champion is the target.”
What does Hakkinen make of rumours of a rift between Bottas and his fellow countryman Kimi Raikkonen, the Ferrari driver, following their two recent collisions?
Bottas attempted to pass Raikkonen on the inside of Turn 5 on lap 21 in Mexico on November 1, but the duo made contact and Raikkonen was pitched out of the race — a reverse of their coming together on the final lap in Russia two races previously.
Angry words were exchanged between the pair, but Hakkinen warned Raikkonen to focus on himself rather than Bottas.
“He has to first of all beat his teammate. He has to concentrate being quicker than his teammate [Sebastian Vettel, who was third in the drivers’ championship] then move to the next step.”
Raikkonen’s third place at the season finale earned him fourth place in the championship, 14 points clear of Bottas.
Would Hakkinen endorse a move to Ferrari for Bottas — which was rumoured earlier this year — to replace Raikkonen?
“At the moment, Valtteri is focused solely on Team Williams,” the former Lotus and McLaren driver replied.
