Why does Nico Rosberg think Valtteri Bottas can beat Hamilton?

So far, the only person to have beaten Lewis Hamilton whilst driving the same car, under the common marquee is former F1 driver Nico Rosberg. In the 2016 F1 season, when the title crown went down the wire, hanging on the knife’s edge, it was Rosberg who kept his cool and took the checkered flag at Abu Dhabi to clinch the world title.

Since then, a lot has changed in Formula 1- hasn’t it? Vettel has been trying his level best (though some might disagree) from the inception of the 2017 season and onward but has failed to usurp his rival.

But it could all change this year. So thinks former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, who has backed Valtteri Bottas to beat Lewis, now a five-time world champion.

The question now is, why does the 2016 World Champion believe that Bottas can outpace Hamiton and therefore, clinch his maiden world title?

According to the latest news, the Monaco-based driver feels that Bottas has the skills to ‘expose’ the ‘weaknesses’ that Lewis Hamiton has, something that could eventually enable the Finn to master a driver who by sheer weight of talent and statistical wizardry has emerged as an all-time great.

Not a sensational claim. Not a loose call. A matter of truth actually if you were to take cognizance of Lewis’ sensational achievements in the top echelons of F1. What do you think?

To that end, basis what Nico Rosberg feels about Valtteri Bottas’ approach as seen at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix and the preparations that led to the season-opener, here’s a direct quote from the man himself:

“Valtteri – as I always did – practiced all weekend with his clutch: once, twice, three times, hundreds of times,” Rosberg told Auto Bild. “And Lewis, not once, maybe five times maximum.

There stands a real chance, Nico feels, that going forward this year, there would be a real duel between Bottas and Hamilton where it comes to qualifying, an aspect of a Grand Prix that Lewis is particularly strong at.

And if the Finnish racing driver, one who went winless in 2018, can further continue his good form, beating Hamilton to pole regularly- which, let’s see happens or not- then, who knows, what Nico Rosberg feels may well come true. Isn’t it?