Valtteri Bottas says Monaco no longer feels “impossible to drive” after⛎ a strong day of practice running for Mercedes.

The reigning world champion squad dominated Thursday’s track action around the streets of Monte Carlo as Lewis Hamilton topped both sessions, with Bottas endingꦜ up just 0.081s behind in FP2.

Monaco had been something of a bogey track for Mercedes in recent years but Hamilton and Bottas finished over seven tenths clear of neares🅺t rivals Ferrari.

“I think it was a good day for us o🍸n track,” Botta💟s said.

“There h🐻ave been years in herꦜe where the car felt nearly impossible to drive but now it was actually driveable and enjoyable, so we’ve just got to fine-tune the set-up.

“I think we started the weekend with the right foot, that’s t𝔉he feeling, but obviously t🐓his is Monaco and anything can happen. So far, so good.”

Bottas is yet to step on the Monte Carlo podium after Mercedes’ recent strugg🗹les at the circuit, but he finally feels confident in the car he has beneath him.

“It does feel good - it ♋feels quite solid,” he explained. “In re🧔cent years when we went soft with the car it became a bit lazy, but today it was responsive and nice.

“But we just need to make sure that whatever changes we make it will keep going in the right d🌳ꦛirection.”

The Finn had a couple of close shaves with the Monaco barriers but said it is key to find the limit during practi🐽ce.

“It was close,” Bottas added. “You need to find the limit but, luckꦐily, there 🌠was no damage today and it was fun. I felt comfortable pushing the limits and that’s always a good feeling.”