Valtteri Bottas believes Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team won’t be at a disadvantage at the Monaco Grand Prix with its longer wheelbase car.
Unlike Scuderia Ferrari, Mercedes opted for a longer wheelbase, as they felt this was more beneficial over the course of the 2017 Formula 1 Season. With the design being more advantageous in long high-speed corners, but might make things more tricky at venues with tight and twisty corners.
Mercedes are currently leading in the Constructors’ Championship by eight points, the smallest details count more than before on the Mercedes W08 to see them continue ahead. Despite knowing this information, Bottas still has faith in the Brackley-based outfit, with this based on the strong performance in the final sector at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.
When asked by Motorsport.com, if the team were braced for a tough Monaco Grand Prix, Bottas replied, “No, I think here we have shown strong performance in the last sector [in Spain].
“That is all about slow speed corners and corner sequences, which is all about Monaco, so I think we have all the chances to be very strong there. We expect again being close to Ferrari, and potentially the grid will be tighter with less straight lines so maybe Red Bull can be strong as well.
“But I think we have all the opportunities for a good weekend, so I don’t feel we are at all on the back foot going to Monaco.”
With Williams Martini Racing, Bottas struggled at the Monte Carlo circuit, as they’ve never been particular well suited to the street track. Heading into the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Bottas believes anything is possible with Mercedes.
“Monaco has been okay but, always as a team with Williams, we have always been struggling massively in Monaco, so I haven’t had the car yet to be fighting for top three places like now. So I think anything is possible.
“It’s a track with high importance for qualifying and race with no mistakes, so definitely I will again as always take whatever points and things I can learn from the last weekend and do the maximum on that.”
