Lewis Hamilton insists he has no plans to concede a race victory to Me𒈔rcedes Formula 1 🎃teammate Valtteri Bottas before the end of the 2018 season.

The recently-crowned five-time ๊💧world champion revealed Mercedes’ decision to tell Bottas to give up his position while leading the Russian Grand Prix was “one of the most difficult moments” of his title-winning campaign.

Hamilton went on to seal the 2018 ch⛄ampionship with two races to spare after a fourth-place finish in the Mexican Grand Prix, though he refuted suggestions Mercedes could ask him to return the favour to Bottas - who yet to win this year - now the drivers’ title fight is wrapped up.

Askedꦡ if Mercedes will repeat its Sochi team orders call in either of the remaining two races in Brazil or Abu Dhabi, Hamilton replied: “The team are not going to make that call.

“If I’m in tཧhat position - It’s not something I’ve asked Valtteri if he wants that - but I don’t think he’s going to want that. He’ꦕs going to want to win it in his own way.

“So I don’t know if I’ll be doing him any favours in the sense of giving him a win, I don’t think he needs that I thi𓂃nk he thinks he can do it himself.

“All I can do is try and make sure I’m supportive throughout the process and the weekend. I’m always really open with my set-up, so I’ll c𒐪on🃏tinue to do so.

"It would be great for Valtteri to finish on a strong note, feel bett🔜er in the car and finish ofꦍf strong," he added. 

"I think last year he finished off strong and that really set him up for the beginning of this year, which I think he started off strong again, so that is always naturally a good thing."

Hamilton heads into this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix having claimed just one previous winܫ at the Interlagos circuit, which he achieved in 2016.

Prior to his victory in 2016 Hamilton’s beﷺst result at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace had been consecutive second-place finishes behind then teammate Nico Rosberg in 2015 and 2014, while a crash in qualifying🐲 last year forced him to start from the back of the grid.

The Briton said “lots of different circumstances” have played a role in him not taking more victoဣries at what he described as a “difficu🔴lt” track, adding he is determined to increase his tally this year.

“I don’t♚ really know why I’ve not wo🔯n here more. I can’t really explain. It’s a difficult track," he said.

🤡“There’s lots of different circumstances, I can’t really answer it but I’m grateful for the one win I have and naturally I want to win more.”