The 2019 version of Valtteri Bottas is leading a Formula 1 championship for the first time sure, he's only one Grand Prix into the season, he concedes, but it was a big one writes John Pye for the AP. Bottas started from the front row of the grid for the first time at the Australian Grand Prix — formerly his least favourite F1 circuit — and beat Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton to the first corner. He never let Hamilton back into the race, a striking contrast with 2018. He was the loyal No. 2 at Mercedes last season and helped his teammate to a fifth world championship, finishing 2018 in fifth spot — a performance that put his own seat in jeopardy. The 29-year-old Finn kept his...
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