Nico Rosberg thinks Valtteri Bottas can win the world title

Rosberg beat Hamilton to the 2016 World Drivers’ Championship while team-mates at Mercedes. And the German thinks Bottas can follow in his footsteps by stopping Hamilton winning a sixth title. Bottas won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix last weekend - his first victory since Abu Dhabi in 2017. The Finn started in second, behind Hamilton, but overtook the Brit on the opening corner and never looked back.

Rosberg think Bottas would have tirelessly practiced the manoeuvre which led to his memorable victory. "Valtteri - as I always did - practiced all weekend with his clutch: once, twice, three times, hundreds of times,” Rosberg told Auto Bild. “And Lewis, not once, maybe five times maximum. “The problem for Valtteri is that Lewis is always so strong in qualifying, but the chance is there that we will see a real duel.

Lewis Hamilton is the favourite to win a sixth world title

"I think if Valtteri can keep the positive mentality, he can become world champion, because then Lewis has his periods of weakness." Rosberg also praised Bottas for how he has responded since coming back from the winter break. The 29-year-old came under fire for finishing fifth last season in the same car as Hamilton. But he has extra fire in his belly this time around.

Valtteri Bottas won the Australian Grand Prix