ABU DHABI -- Valtteri Bottas says he knew only a "proper mistake" was going to deny him victory at the 2017 season finale, where he withstood race-long pressure from Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Bottas made a good getaway from pole position and led into Turn 1 ahead of the new world champion. Hamilton remained close behind the No.77 car for the rest of the race, coming within DRS range in the laps after Bottas' made his one and only pit-stop at mid-distance.
That pressure did not faze Bottas, who held firm to score his third win of his F1 career.