F1: 5 incidences that prove Valtteri Bottas has endured a tough season

Denied the race-win at Sochi, Russian Grand Prix

F1 Grand Prix of Russia where Bottas was bereft of any smile

There's been something special about Sochi as far as Mercedes' Bottas is concerned.

He has been on the podium on multiple occasions at a belter of a track marked by extended straights and high-speed corners and in so doing, been fortunate in emerging clean despite being involved in a collision with Ferrari's Raikkonen in 2015.

It was here in 2017 that Bottas reigned supreme for the first time.

And it was here in 2018 where despite running in contention for another race win at a track he's utterly mastered that Bottas would be denied a win.

Why did that happen, we all know? Who can forget the sullen-looking Bottas on the podium, as the beholder of second place at Sochi, all thanks to being told to 'let Lewis through' in the final stages of the contest where he was running behind his teammate.

In solidifying Hamilton's race and the case for the drivers' championship, Bottas had to contend with the second-best place and would only manage to keep Vettel behind, thankfully for the team.