Valtteri Bottas reckons a year of going up against one of the best drivers in Formula 1 means he himself is now a "more complete" driver and, paired with the development direction of the W09, reckons he can team-mate beat Lewis Hamilton to the title.
Bottas finished just 58 points adrift of Hamilton last year, in what was his debut with the team after joining from Williams, although his win tally of three fell short of Hamilton's nine.
The Finn finished the season on a high with victory in Abu Dhabi and is therefore confident that he's learned from his year with Hamilton and can get the better of him in 2018.
"For sure he is one of the best drivers ever in Formula 1, a four-time world champion who's always on it, but I proved to myself a few times last year that I can do it and I can beat him," Bottas told ESPN.
"It's up to me to be performing well consistently all through the year, not having those kinds of race weekends when I'm a couple of tenths off or something. I need to be in all conditions – no matter what track, which temperature and which tarmac – I need to be there."
Bottas also believes the fact he's had input into the 2018 W09 will aid him in his search for a maiden F1 title.
"I think all the development we have done with the team over the winter with the new car, everything looks in the right direction in terms of what's good for my driving style. That's how I see it now in theory, but of course we need to find out. I need to adapt, but I think I'm so much more of a complete driver starting this year than starting one year ago.
"I think everyone knows [my target]. For sure every driver wants to be world champion, but I am so hungry for it. I'm ready to do anything it takes."
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