Image copyright: Getty Images
2021 FIA Formula One World Championship
2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Baku City Circuit
Baku, Azerbaijan
Sunday, 6 June
Valtteri Bottas is eager to bounce back at Sunday's Azerbaijan
Grand Prix following a difficult start to the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship season.
Bottas has made his worst start to a season since joining Mercedes, but will take confidence from the fact that he finished first on his most recent visit to the Baku City Circuit.
Image copyright: Getty Images
The Finn has suffered two DNFs so far in 2021, at the Emilia Romagna and Monaco Grand Prix respectively. The most recent of which happened two weeks ago when he was forced to retire after his right-front wheel got stuck on the car in his pit stop.
Bottas, who has finished third on three occasions, has watched teammate Lewis Hamilton win three of the opening five races.
“In the beginning of the season, definitely the mental strength has been tested,” said Bottas.
“It's not been the easiest ride to start with, in the last few races, having two DNFs. So I would say there have been setbacks and it's all about how you bounce back from those and how you move forward.
“The loser's option is to give up and it's not something I'm going to do. So still keeping very strong mentally and knowing that it's a long, long season ahead and for sure many good battles to come and hopefully many wins. So I have full belief in myself and for us as a team that we still have time to do good things," he added.
Bottas claimed top spot on Formula One's last visit to Baku in 2019. There was no race last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix, previous winners:
2019: Valtteri Bottas - Mercedes
2018: Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes
2017: Daniel Ricciardo - Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer
2016: Nico Rosberg - Mercedes (*held as European Grand Prix)
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