Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Valtteri Bottas needs to challenge for the Formula One title in 2018, and has backed his driver to come back stronger in his sophomore season with the reigning world champions.
Bottas endured a mixed first campaign with Mercedes and finished 2017 third in the drivers' standings. Despite recording four pole positions, and claiming three impressive victories in Russia, Austria and Abu Dhabi, the Finn labelled his season as "disappointing", after ending up nearly 60 points behind teammate and world champion Lewis Hamilton.