With his success at the Russian Grand Prix, Valtteri Bottas has signalled that Lewis Hamilton won't just face competition from Ferrari this season.
The second-string Mercedes driver powered to victory at Sochi, with his celebrated British teammate trailing home in fourth place.
Finnish Bottas took his maiden Grand Prix victory after outperforming Hamilton in qualifying and seizing control of the race with a sensational start from third on the grid, overtaking the Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen at the first corner.
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"First Grand Prix victories do not come much better than this," says Andrew Benson of the BBC. He notes that Bottas was "imperious" in Sochi, "crushing teammate Lewis Hamilton in a manner rarely seen, and then soaking up intense pressure in the race from four-time champion Sebastian Vettel despite a damaged front tyre".
Bottas has the reputation of "a very solid competitor" after four years with Williams, says Benson. "But there are always questions over drivers before they really go up against the A-listers in a front-running car... [in Russia] he answered the doubters in emphatic style."
Hamilton is still by far the senior driver at Mercedes, but, adds Benson, "Bottas's performance in Russia has told him, if he did not know before, that he faces a challenge at least as great as that from [Nico] Rosberg over the last three years".
Some people see Bottas as a stop-gap for Mercedes, who have only given him a one-year deal. That is hardly "the greatest affirmation of his long-term potential", says Oliver Brown of the Daily Telegraph, but "the Finn has shown definitively that he is not at Mercedes to be Lewis Hamilton’s understudy".
His statement of intent could have repercussions, says Rebecca Clancy of The Times. "At the moment it’s all laughing and joking, handshakes and back slaps between the drivers," Clancy notes, but Bottas is aware "it could all be very different by the end of the year".
Victory leaves him ten points behind Hamilton in the Drivers' Championship, and 23 behind leader Vettel, who benefited from Hamilton's off day in Sochi.
"Hamilton and the Ferrari drivers were quick to congratulate Bottas on his maiden victory," says Clancy. "Having tasted success, Bottas is eager for more but is acutely aware that it will be easier said than done."
Valtteri Bottas confident despite Bahrain tyre struggles
18 April
Mercedes-AMG new recruit Valtteri Bottas says he is feeling confident after Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, despite issues with tyre pressure dashing his hopes of F1 victory.
Asked by Motorsport whether he feels more or less confident in his abilities at Mercedes following his difficult race, the Finn replied: "I think more," adding: "This weekend was nice that I could perform a bit better in qualifying, so definitely from Australia, China and here, I feel I can get more out of the car in qualifying.
"It is just the race here is a question mark."
After starting in pole position, Bottas lead the opening stint ahead of eventual winner Sebastian Vettel, but high tyre pressure caused by a broken generator halted his progress.
"Bottas lacked pace in the race," says the BBC's Andrew Benson.
The Finn eventually crossed the line third after slipping behind Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel during the first round of pit stops.
He was later asked to move over for his hard-charging Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, who was handed a five-second penalty for deliberately blocking Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo in the pits.
This raises the question of whether Mercedes will back three-time champion Hamilton over Bottas in this year's championship, adds the BBC, with team principal Toto Wolff "at least accepting it needs to be thought about".
According to the broadcaster, the team only imposed orders in the latter stages of the race because the Bahrain event is "so early in the season".
The Silver Arrow has rarely imposed team orders in recent years. "Nobody within Mercedes wants to influence the race from the pit wall," adds ESPN.
However, "it could prove to be a powerful weapon in the battle for the title this year" as it seems "unlikely Ferrari would think twice about sacrificing Kimi Raikkonen's race for Vettel".
Vettel now leads the championship with 68 points, seven more than Hamilton and 30 points clear of Bottas.
The next round in the Formula 1 championship takes place in Russia between 28 and 30 April.
