Valtteri Bottas feels he is yet to reach his peak as a Formula 1 driver

Valtteri Bottas believes he still has higher levels of performance within him as a driver, and is continually learning new things about himself and the car beneath him.

The Alfa Romeo driver has spoken enthusiastically about his prospects this year since his move to the team on a multi-year deal, following his departure from Mercedes after five seasons with the Constructors’ champions.

Bottas has largely had the measure of rookie team-mate Zhou Guanyu all year, having gained 46 points compared to just five for the young Chinese driver at the time of the sport’s summer break.

The Finn says he has enjoyed the atmosphere at Alfa Romeo and found he has been able to see any requests he has made put into action more quickly than his spell at Mercedes –something he sees as an advantage in his new surroundings.

But when it comes to the 10-time grand prix winner’s own performances, he thinks there is more to come.

“That is quite hard to measure, because obviously everything is new this year,” Bottas responded to a question byThe Racewhen asked how he feels his driving compares to last season.

“But in terms of how I feel in the car, I feel really comfortable. I don’t think I’ve peaked yet as a driver. I think it’s individual and for me, it’s not yet so I’m still learning. That’s the beauty of the sport, if you still want to learn.

“I guess it also depends on the atmosphere and the surroundings and everything. For me, it works. And I really like this car and being able to really also set it up how I want. So that’s nice.”

How much further can Valtteri Bottas go?

I wrote at the end of last yearabout how Bottas was ultimately cast in a role at Mercedes that Rubens Barrichello filled alongside Michael Schumacher at Ferrari.

That being the fact he is a top quality driver in his own right, who just so happened to come up against one of the best drivers in history at the peak of their powers, in dominant machinery.

He always stood up well against Hamilton in qualifying, but it was in races where the performance gap began to show itself – with Hamilton and Max Verstappen often in an exclusive fight well up the road from anyone else last year.

Fernando Alonsohas previously been the master of wrangling under-performing cars to highs which they should not normally expect, and that now has to be the aim for Bottas as he looks to show the rest of the field that he deserves to be fighting among the frontrunners.

There is every chance that Bottas could find new highs in his own performance level, but unless Alfa Romeo give him a car to match, it is unlikely that we will be able to see it in the battle for podiums and victories – which would be a real shame.