F1: Valtteri Bottas ‘can’t wait for next year’ to pursue title dream

Bottas excited for 2020

Valtteri Bottas admits that he “can’t wait” for next season as the Mercedes driver aims to fulfil his dreams by winning the Formula 1 world championship.

The Finn is currently second in the 2019 drivers’ standings, 73 points behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton. But with five races left British driver Hamilton is hot favourite to go on and secure a sixth career world title.

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At the end of August Bottas was confirmed as Hamilton’s team-mate for 2020 and speaking to the F1: Beyond The Grid podcast he said: “I’m looking forward to the end of 2019. Honestly, I can’t wait for 2020.

“Every season I have learned so much and at some point there has to be a time to put it all together to get to my dream, which I have been working for since I was a kid.

“So, no doubt 2020 I am going to put it all in and do whatever it takes to achieve it. I just have a feeling that it is going to be an interesting year.”

Lewis expects battle of the ‘big three’ in Japan

Lewis Hamilton is excited at the prospect of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull going head-to-head at the Japanese Grand Prix.

F1’s next race takes place at Suzuka on Sunday 13 October and Hamilton said after his victory last weekend in Russia: “It’s going to be awesome. Suzuka is incredible.

“It’s one of the most exciting parts of the year and now so more than ever before because you’ve got three solid, incredibly fast teams, particularly pushing each other and having the ability, the potential to win a race.

“I have no idea who is going to be quickest there. Obviously, at the moment, Ferraris are quite dominant but maybe it will suit our car a little bit more, who knows? Or the Red Bull, maybe.

“So it’s exciting to go there because that’s a serious driver’s track, one of the best ones of the whole year.”

The 2019 Japanese GP on 13 October starts at 6.10am (UK time).

Kvyat dismisses Alfa rumours

Daniil Kvyat has played down any talk of a potential move to Alfa Romeo by insisting that he’s loving life at Toro Rosso, GrandPX reports.

The 25-year-old told Russian outlet Sportbox: “I don’t know anything about the situation at Alfa Romeo. I focus only on my team.”

La Gazzetta dello Sport also reports that Kvyat is definitely staying with Toro Rosso next season. “I have heard many different statements, but I am happy to have my place in Formula 1 also for 2020,” said Kvyat.

“I love Toro Rosso and I like to keep driving for this team.”