Valtteri Bottas admits his second season at Mercedes this year has been the “worst” of his Formula 1 career despite having performed better.

Asked by RaceFans whether this had been his most disappointing season so far Bottas said: “Yeah I think it is.”

Bottas made his debut with Williams in 2013 at a time when the team was struggling to score points. “For sure the first season was tough,” said Bottas.

“But you can’t compare because with Williams in ’13 we were fighting at the back. I felt that during my first year in Formula 1 I can’t get my goals [for a] few seasons. Then a few seasons after were better than this one.”

He joined Mercedes from Williams in 2017. “Last year was quite different to this year,” said Bottas. “It was my first year with the team, first year alongside Lewis [Hamilton].

“I remember this time last year I was disappointed, I didn’t meet my targets. But now when I look back, at least then I won a few races. Some hopes. So now at this point at this very same point I’m even more disappointed, for sure. Yeah I think this is the worst season so far.”

Although he hasn’t scored a win yet this season, Bottas believes he has performed better this year.

“I think there’s been some very odd races,” he said. “Just things haven’t gone my way.

“I’ve been quite unlucky in general this year. I don’t think there’s more than that.

“I know the fact that I performed better than last year. In the end that’s the only thing that matters after a season like this, one to learn from, one to kind of also forget but one that definitely will make me a tougher driver and person in the future.”

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2018 F1 season