The Race Against One's Mind....

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, AGP. (C)

    Do you recall when Formula One qualifying was a flat out blast for one hour? All the drivers would run as their teams' desired, each run improved upon the previous, only for the likes of say Ayrton Senna or Michael Schumacher to demolish their times at the last possible moment, thus demoralising the opposition. Would have to erode the other drivers' confidence, wouldn't it?
    It was refreshing to see that psychological warfare is still prevalent in today's F1, as evidenced by last week's Australian Grand Prix. To gain the ascendancy over not only your team mate, but the entire field through unyielding determination, resilience, tenacity or what ever you want to call it, all adds to driver confidence. When racing, driver confidence is paramount. 
    Anyone who's ever attended a Grand Prix weekend can feel how the momentum builds through Free Practise towards Qualifying, culminating in the Grand Prix itself. We found it intriguing and never more evident at Albert Park. Looking to justify his signing and cement his place in the team, newcomer at Ferrari Charles Leclerc was quick  during practise into qualifying, often faster than team mate, Sebastian Vettel. Would a four time champion let a kid with only one year's F1 experience beat him? After all, Vettel is the undisputed leader at Ferrari, isn't he? When the pressure was on, in the end, it was Vettel who outqualified him and beat him in the race. To Leclerc's credit though, he applied strong pressure to Vettel in the race until Ferrari put a halt to the attack in favour of bringing both cars home in the points. A tussle we hope will run all season.
    However the driver that warrants applause is Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas. Here's a driver that endured a woeful 2018. No wins despite driving the best car. Retirements whilst on the cusp of winning. Told to pull over for team mate Lewis Hamilton for the sake of the championship. Labelled a good "wingman" to Hamilton by team boss Toto Wolff. Now he has Mercedes sponsored Esteban Ocon waiting to take his seat if Mercedes opt not to exercise their option on Bottas next year. He could be forgiven if his motivation waned for the forthcoming season. Not Bottas though. He distanced himself from not only F1, but all distractions, reflected, trained hard and returned reinvigorated, determined to put his own stamp on F1. With the scars of last year's Australian GP still fresh from when he crashed in qualifying, he turns up at Albert Park and despite Hamilton being quickest in all practise sessions, puts the car on provisional pole. Hamilton responds only the way he knows how by summoning all his experience and talent to place the car on pole in the dying moments of qualifying. After qualifying a lesser driver than Bottas may of acquiesced. Which leads us to the race itself. Whose confidence will skyrocket after they land that psychological body blow? Bottas not only won the start, but he destroyed the entire field by winning the race by 20 seconds over Hamilton and nearly a minute over Ferrari, also absconding with the bonus point for fastest lap. 
    Hamilton doesn't win five world championships by chance. He knows how to mount a challenge and is renown for being unrelenting in the second half of the season. Former team mate and 2016 champ Nico Rosberg has stated that it took all his mental strength to defeat Lewis Hamilton. Question is, does Valtteri Bottas possess the intestinal fortitude to sustain a serious championship assault? Australian GP domination undoubtedly boosted Valtteri's confidence sending a chilling message to the opposition, but are we yet to see the full depth of a Bottas ruthless reserve? Psychological pistols at ten paces, or should we say 21 races? Cheers....    
    
    
    

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