Lewis Hamilton: Valtteri Bottas hints he will IGNORE Mercedes F1 orders in stern warning

Hamilton goes into the new campaign as favourite to secure glory having enjoyed an imperious season in 2018.

And his exploits, alongside those of Bottas, ensured Mercedes grabbed the World Constructors’ Championship too.

Lewis Hamilton was the main man at Mercedes once again last season, with Bottas in a supporting role.

And that meant the Finn was sometimes forced to follow team orders and let his the Brit claim maximum points.

Valtteri Bottas, who’s position at Mercedes is under threat going forward, has now revealed his aims for the coming eight months.

And he’s hinted he will not be receptive to Toto Wolff and co.’s requests because he wants to win the title himself.

“It was a disappointing season and it kind of nearly made me angry with myself that in my six years in Formula 1 I haven’t been achieving my target,” Bottas said, when reflecting on 2018.

“Obviously, I have time yet, but I’m starting to realise you definitively only have one career, and I don’t want to be in that situation again, that I feel like that and I start to question myself if I could have done something better.

“I just want to make sure that this year I’ll do everything I can to achieve those targets and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure I achieve those goals.

“I’m just mentally prepared for the whole year, but it all comes down to details in this sport.

“I just have to be the best that I can. I know what I can do if I perform at my best level, I’ll be able to be matching and being ahead of Lewis in qualifying or race pace.

“I know I can do it and now it’s just hard work to be up there more consistently.

“I didn’t win a single race last year, and there is only one target for the whole season – the world championship, for me personally and for us as a team.”

Hamilton and Bottas tested Mercedes’ new W10 car at the Circuit de Catalunya this week.

They will continue to fine-tune it during the second four days of testing at the Barcelona track next week.

The new F1 season gets underway next month with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

source: express.co.uk