The Finn has proved himself as a potential contender for the championship battle on the back of a well-earned victory in the Russian Grand Prix.

And although he received warm congratulations from a host of drivers – including Hamilton – after the race, he thinks the pleasantries will ultimately stop.

Asked about what Hamilton had said to him as they met each other in parc ferme, Bottas said: "He congratulated me. It's very very nice of him to be very professional about everything so far and he's been in front of me now… he's done a great job and I think vice versa.

"So I think we're working well as a team but I'd say also we did today against the Ferrari drivers. It's going to be a long year with a lot of fighting with all these cars.

"At some point things might get a bit more tricky on track - and if and when it comes to the championship fight, it might be less talking and more fighting on track."

Confidence lift

While Mercedes' bosses think Bottas will be unaffected by taking his maiden win, the man himself believes he will gain some new-found confidence from the result.

For having delivered a strong victory, it has lifted his belief and desire to do it again.

"For sure, getting the first win is something special," he said. "Even though you always believe in yourself because there's no point being here or doing this if you don't believe in your skill. If you think that you are not able to win then definitely you should stay home.

"But, actually getting the confirmation and getting the result [is important]. Because results are what matters in this world. How many points you score, how many races you can win, how many times you be on the podium - that's the name of the game.

"And getting that first win, it definitely gives me confidence that I can do it even though I've always knew I had the ability.

"But now it's done, I just want to do it again and again. It's not that simple this year. It's going to be always a massive fight at least for the first half of the year. It's going to be a fight with four different drivers."