Source: Mercedes-Benz Archive

F1 News

Bottas: constant defending during races getting annoying

Bottas: constant defending during races "getting annoying"

12-11-2018 14:20
Author profile picture

Jake Williams-Smith

Valtteri Bottas says that the constant need to defend his position during the Brazilian Grand Prix was "getting annoying". The Finn fought hard against Kimi Raikkonen for much of the race before conceding the position at the halfway point in the race and later losing out to Daniel Ricciardo for fourth position.

After the race, Bottas described the constant defensive drive as annoying though admitted that he was always going to be fighting a losing battle with Mercedes struggling with tyre wear against their rivals.

“Sometimes it was getting annoying because I had to do it so many times,” he said.

“I was trying to defend and you have to compromise, how much you defend, how much you sacrifice the next straight or corner.

“I tried, but in the end, it was just a matter of time that the people got through.

“For sure it could have been a lot better. Just the first stint, struggled with some overheating and in the second stint I had blistering on the rears.

“So once the blistering started, my pace was a little bit slow, and once Daniel (Ricciardo) got through, we had a free pit stop behind so that’s why we stopped, to minimise the risk. In the end it was just bringing it home.”

Despite eventually finishing in fifth position, his finish and Lewis Hamilton's race victory meant that Mercedes clinched their fifth straight constructors' championship crown with a race to spare. 

“Every single team member really deserves it,” he added.

“Everyone has been working super hard to make it happen and it’s impressive, what we’ve been able to do as a team.

“We’ve always kept it together under pressure. I think that was the main thing this season, so a big congrats and a big thanks to everyone in team.

“Every year it gets even tougher, it’s so many championships now in a row, it’s not going to get any easier next year, but I think that’s what motivates us.

“I think the key thing is we’ve minimised all the mistakes this year, we’ve kept united, the team spirit is only getting better. May that continue for long.”