Hamilton says it's "not easy" being his team-mate

Five-time and reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton has claimed it is "not easy" driving alongside him and his team-mate.

Valtteri Bottas massively underperformed in 2018; especially when compared to his team-mate Hamilton, but the pair did seem to work very well together at Mercedes.

Hamilton is very complimentary of Bottas, and has some sympathy for him, also; saying it's "not easy" to be his team-mate.

"He's been an incredible team-mate," Hamilton said on a review of the season on his team's official website. "It's not easy being my team-mate, but it's also not easy being his team-mate because he's very, very fast, he's very quick and he's continuing to get faster and faster.

"I've been here six years, this was only his second year (at Mercedes), and he really keeps me on my toes."

Hamilton won an incredible 11 times throughout the 2018 season; on his way to a fifth world championship. Bottas, however, was winless last season.

Bottas may have won in Russia, with the Finn comfortably leading, but a slightly over-cautious Mercedes team ordered the driver to give up his position for Hamilton, due to their respective positions in the drivers' standings.

Next season really looks as if it could define Bottas' future at Mercedes. They won't expect him to reach the standards Hamilton has set for himself, but they'll definitely be desperate for Bottas to be a considerable amount more competitive.