Rosberg’s warning to Bottas

Retired Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg has warned his Mercedes replacement Valtteri Bottas not to expect an ‘easy ride’ from team mate Lewis Hamilton.

The 31-year old said he would be happy to give the Finn some advice ahead of next month’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March. The German had spent years trying to beat Hamilton, a triple world champion who moved to Mercedes from McLaren in 2013.

“I would tell him don’t expect an easy ride, that’s for sure,” Rosberg said. “It’s going to be challenging coming into a new team with Lewis having been there for so many years and with the new regulations.

“Lewis is one of the best out there so the level is extremely high. At the same time Valtteri is very talented. He can achieve great things as well, as long as the team gives him a good car. “He (Bottas) has asked if we can have a chat soon and I am happy to do that, of course - but I will stay very, very neutral.

I won’t give away any Lewis secrets, for example, I’ll just help him in a way to integrate better into the team.” Rosberg beat Hamilton to the 2016 drivers’ title only to announce his shock retirement days later, walking away from a contract reported to be worth around $22.48 million a year. Bottas, 27, has joined the champions after spending the five previous seasons at Williams.

This week Rosberg suggested his own longstanding rivalry with Hamilton, which started when they were teenagers in karting, had added friction and he would often feel even more angry when the Briton did ‘something that crosses the line’.

But the German, whose tense relationship with Hamilton on and-off the track has been well documented, did not rule out a reconciliation with the three times world champion. “The competition has gone completely, sadly. We’ve already had some nice, relaxed moments and who knows, I am open to having a better relationship with him again in the future,” he said. “We were best friends after all, 15 years ago.”

Rosberg took the World Breakthrough Of The Year category at the 2017 Laureus World Sport for securing his first F1 crown last year. Bottas says he has no intention of playing second fiddle to Hamilton this season and believes he can emulate Rosberg and beat the Briton. “I feel it is possible,” the 27-year-old Finn told Germany’s Sky Sports television on Tuesday.

“Nico showed beating Lewis is possible. “I am not here to be in second place or worse. It is definitely a challenge, and going up against Lewis is always going to be a challenge, but for me a massive opportunity,” added the former Williams driver.

Hamilton won more races - 10 in total - in 2016 than Rosberg - nine - but missed out on a fourth championship due to technical problems and a disastrous power unit failure in Malaysia while leading.

Bottas has yet to stand on top of the podium after four seasons at former champions Williams, who also use Mercedes engines. “I really respect what Hamilton has done with his career, so many poles and wins and three titles.

I still don’t have a race win so I have a lot to prove,” he said.” I haven’t yet proved pretty much anything in Formula One, everything is still ahead.” Bottas, who will join Hamilton at the launch of the new Mercedes at Silverstone tomorrow before testing in Spain the following week, saw no obstacles to the pair working well together and racing hard and fair.

The 20-race season starts in Australia on March 26 and later today the Bahrain International Circuit will host a press conference to announce details on the 2017 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix it hosts on April 14, 15 & 16, the third race of the season.

Motorsport fans have only until the end of the month to secure an ‘Early Bird’ discount, with ticket prices slashed by up to 15 per cent.  Tickets can be purchased at the BIC stand located at City Centre Bahrain, online at www.bahraingp.com or by calling 17450000