Valtteri Bottas 'almost retired after Hamilton team orders'

Bottas made a vow to himself never to relent to team orders again though.

“Straight after the race, I said I would not do it again.”

The Mercedes driver has admitted to the despondency he’s felt from finishing runner-up more often than not.

“If your team-mate wins and you are second, you feel like you lose,” the Finn said.

“I know I’ve been second in the past, but I want to prove I’m not just a No2.”

Bottas also fears there may be unintentional bias within the team.

“In the team, even though many wouldn’t admit it, maybe unconsciously they have a No1 and a No2,” he said.

“Sometimes the team members had to question themselves: ‘Are we giving equal treatment to Lewis and Valtteri?'”

DtS provides a fascinating insight into the mind of the drivers, as Hamilton also had his say on what he thinks his team-mate must feel after regularly being beaten and/or being ordered to give positions to his team-mate.

“I’d never have thought I have won the titles I have.” the seven-time world champion says. “It’s hard to grasp what I’ve done but it’s, for sure, hard for Valtteri.

“He wants to be the world champion.”

The series covers Bottas getting some short-term revenge on Hamilton, as he first gives Max Verstappen a tow during the 2020 Russian Grand Prix qualifying before Hamilton then gets a penalty in the race, handing the win to the Finn.