3
Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas is concerned that the team will lose out to rivals Ferrari at the next two races in China and Azerbaijan thanks to their gains in straight line speed.
Bottas noted that Ferrari made significant gains in straight line speed in Bahrain.
Bottas won the opening round in Melbourne, leading a one-two finish for Mercedes while Ferrari struggled in fourth and fifth, but the tables were turned in Bahrain when both Mercedes were demoted to the second row of the grid thanks to Ferrari's return to pace.
Lewis Hamilton eventually won the race as Sebastian Vettel suffered a spin and a front wing failure, while leader Charles Leclerc slowed due to engine problems.
“We’ve seen Ferrari was making all the time on the straights, and in China, there’s a longer straight," Bottas said. "So we do need to work hard.
"For sure we are improving the car all the time and we need to review what we can do for the straight lines, but it’s going to be tough. But like [Bahrain] showed, if we keep focusing on ourselves and our things, then anything is possible."
Bottas believes the team must work hard to close the gap to rivals Ferrari coming into the next two rounds, which are both tracks noted having two of the longest straights of the year, fearing the team could lose out at these circuits.
“The next two races there are massively long straights, and I think [in Bahrain] they were making more than 0.4s only in straight lines per lap," Bottas commented.
"We can’t find 0.4s like this. We need to maybe find some of it in the corners and some of it in the straight line, but it’s early on in the season and still a long way to go. But at least we know what we can still work on."
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
134,258 comments on Sauber
2 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Valtteri Bottas
490,154 comments on Ferrari 281 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Ferrari
Replies (3)
Login to replyDistortion01
Posts: 2
Seriously... Why are you guys crying so much? We’ve endured too many seasons of unabated dominance from Mercedes already. Anyone intelligent is already questioning the credibility of the sport now.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Oh don't worry Bottas. Just race Vettel and he'll sooner or later get punished by his overdriving again and spin.
abhidbgt
Posts: 283
Find whatever you guys need to find but after so many of one-sided contests it is good to have one in which you guys are not clear favourite.