Valtteri Bottas says he is using the current hiatus from 💃racing during lockdown to lift himself to the “next level” in time for when the Formula 1 seasoౠn can resume.

F1 is temporarily on hold due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has forced the opening 10 races of the 2020 season called off, with championship bosses hoping to get raci🐼ng underway behind closed doors in early July.

After securing his best-ever F1 result by finishing runner-up to world champion and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in 2019, Bottas is eyeing further improvements for when the rescheduled 2020 𒉰season can get underway.

Speaking in an in-house Mercedes interview published on YouTube, the Finn explained he is using thဣe enforced break to boost both his physical and mental fitness

“It’s ve🌼ry special circumstances in the world and for us in F1,” Bottas said.

“It’s a rare opportunity have the time to do some things that you don’t normally have time for. You have this extra time to bui🥀ld your base condition to really raise your physical fitness and to work on your mental fitness and mental strength.

“I’m really trying to make the most out of this and to be as strong as ever, I’m sure every driver is trying to do the same. I’m trying to ⛄lift up myself to the next level during this rare opportunity.

“It’s pretty unique and I’m just trying to make the most out of it be𒅌cause I know when things get back to normal it will 🙈be pretty flat-out and you will need to have that mental strength and have your batteries fully recharged.”

F1’s plans for a revamped calendar include holding a series of back-to-back European-based races without s꧃pectators, startin♈g with the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5.

And after a minimum five-monﷺth spell since he last drove an F1 car during pre-season testing, Bottas believes finding rhythm quickly will be key when the season finally resumes.

“I can’t remember this long ever being away from single-seater car𒆙s,” Bottas explained.

“Since I joined Williams as a test driveꩲr I can’t remember such a big gap without driving an F1☂ car.

“I’m sure the cars are going to feel very fast again🍬 but the key thing is to find that rhythm as quickly as you can.

“During this pretty special time, you need to make the mos𝓡t out of i📖t and be ready for when it all kicks off and do the things that will help you to be ready.

“I’m trying to make the most out🌞 of the situation for myself and for my performance, trying to work out the best things to do, to be at the best possible performa꧋nce when it all starts.”