Valtteri Bottas says his target for 2017 is to challenge for the
Formula 1 championship and that at Mercedes, there are no number 1 and 2
drivers.In Hungary, the headline news was that title contender Lewis Hamilton gave up three points in his battle with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel by voluntarily handing a place to his teammate.
Bottas on form
But that teammate was Bottas, who qualified ahead of the sister Mercedes in Hungary, has won twice in 2017, and is now just 19 points behind Hamilton in the drivers' standings.
As for Hamilton letting him past last Sunday, Bottas said he was not surprised. Bottas told Bild: "Not every teammate would have done that for a podium, but on the other hand, I would have been angry if Lewis had not accepted the deal.
"The team has made it clear right from the beginning that we are both treated and respected equally.
"We get the same equipment, there is no number 1 and number 2 driver, and I trusted that was the case. I am fighting for the world championship, as this is also about my own career.
"I do not want to be in Lewis' shadow."