Source: Mercedes-Benz Archive

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Bottas feels pole could have been his

Bottas feels pole could have been his

11-11-2018 09:45
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Jake Williams-Smith

Valtteri Bottas believes that a lack of tow cost him a shot at pole. The Finn will line up third for the Brazilian Grand Prix behind teammate Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, but things may have been different according to him.

After qualifying, he was left to reflect on what he believes was a missed opportunity to take pole position.

“I’m not far away but here the margins are small,” said Bottas. “I knew this weekend I did have the pace to be on pole. I think it was there for me to grab but I couldn’t take it today.

“I was more than two tenths up in the second run but lost everything in the last corner on the back straight without any tow, so it was quite disappointing.

“I think at the beginning of the lap it was getting very good, then the middle of the lap was average and lost a tiny bit in the last corner.

“But the main time loss, I think it was more than a tenth, was just up the hill, just losing time on the straight. No drama, but definitely not a perfect lap but I think with a perfect lap pole would have been possible.”