Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has praised Brꦛazilian Grand Prix pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas for getting on top of his is🎉sues with the W08 car and Pirelli tyres to ignite his late season charge for the runner-up spot in the Formula 1 world championship.

With Mercedes already wrapping up the F1 drivers’ and const🦩ructors’ crowns in re🎃cent races, Bottas is aiming to deliver the team a clean sweep by taking second place off of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

Bottas cut the deficit to Vettel to 15 points last time out at the Mexi🦩can Grand Prix and has another opportunity to close the gap having secured pole position in Brazil, with Vettel joining him on the front row.

The Mercedes boss is pleased Bottas is showing signs of recovery having goneꩲ three races without a podium before Mexico – his longest stretch since joining the German manufacturer this year – and has faith the Finn is back on “the ꧋right trajectory” with his feeling in the car and with the tyres.

“He was on an upward slope in the last rac🍌es but thi🥀s weekend was very good, every session he was competitive,” Wolff said. “For me it’s a positive indication that he’s understanding the car better and is on the right trajectory.

“I think it’s those little steps he’s made to under👍stand why the tire doesn’t perform or why he’s not having the tire in the right window.

"The car is very sensitive and the tyre is very sensitive and you can see that with other t🥀eams as well, little steps can throw you off the grip curve. He’s putting the dots together and this has eventually led to better performance.”