Following the shock retirement of newly crowned F1 world champion Nico Rosberg, Bottas left Williams to join Mercedes for 2017. He remained alongside Hamilton until a 2022 move to Sauber (then branded Alfa Romeo).
During their time together, Hamilton won 50 grands prix and four drivers’ titles while Bottas scored 10 victories.
To keep competing against his team-mate, Bottas now believes that he had to be in a state of denial.
Speaking exclusively to Autosport, the Finn said: “You have to be in denial.
“I was in denial for almost five years because every year, I wanted to get back to the season and then fight for the title and I had to believe in myself.”
Bottas added that it was only during his final 2021 season at Mercedes - after which the team made room to promote junior driver George Russell from Williams - that he came to terms with losing out in the head-to-head.
He continued: “It was only when I knew that I was leaving the team then that I noticed that I was a bit more fine with certain things.
Source: Autosport