Mika hopes Bottas gets title chance

Editor

Mika Hakkinen has urged Valtteri Bottas' management team to make sure they do everything possible to give him a chance to become a World Champion.

With Williams finally producing a car able to challenge at the front end of the grid last year, Bottas showed his qualities as he finished fourth in the Drivers' Championship on the back of six podium finishes.

Although Williams have gone slightly backwards this year, Bottas continues to impress and he is currently fifth in the standings despite missing the first race of the season.

His good form has led to speculation that he could move to one of the top teams in the near future with Ferrari mooted as a possible destination, and his manager Didier Coton admitted at the Spanish GP last time out that that his client doesn't have a contract for 2016.

In his latest Q&A blog for Hermes, Hakkinen said: "Valtteri's manager Didier Coton has already given an answer in Barcelona so I don't want to add anything else to this.

"Valtteri's job is everything that has to do with his work as a driver to be successful.

"It is the job of the managers to make sure of things off the track so that Valtteri has a chance to become a World Champion one day."

Bottas finished fourth at the Spanish GP in Barcelona and Hakkinen admits he continues to be impressed by his compatriot's ability. 

"In addition to his fantastic driving skills, he has really strong nerves," he said. "His style differs from the other drivers in an interesting way. It is not especially pleasant to drive behind him. He can bring the car out of the curve so that he can just reach the distance for the next. 

"Valtteri made no errors so there was no chance for Kimi [Raikkonen in the Ferrari] to overtake at all."