Bottas ecstatic with first victory
FINLAND’S Valtteri Bottas claimed his maiden Formula One victory at the Russian Grand Prix yesterday with a brilliant start which catapulted him ahead of both Ferraris.
Standings leader Sebastian Vettel held pole with teammate Kimi Raikkonen second but Bottas flew by them early and held on for a 0.617- second victory at the Sochi Autodrom, his first in more than 80 races.
Vettel was runner- up to increase his lead in the world championship standings from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who never really threatened to rise from fourth on the grid.
Raikkonen finished third while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completed the top five.
Australian Red Bull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo retired on the fifth lap.
Ricciardo told his team over the radio that “my right rear brake’s on fire”. Soon after, he was instructed by his team to drive slowly to the pits, where he was withdrawn from the race.
Ricciardo started from fifth position on the grid at the Sochi circuit.
It is the second grand prix of the season the Australian has had to retire from during a race, after also suffering mechanical problems in Melbourne.
Vettel appeared to get away smoothly from pole, Ferrari’s first since late 2015, but Bottas was even better. He left fellow Finn Raikkonen behind and passed the leading German on the outside of turn two.
Bottas said: “It took more than 80 races but it was worth it, well worth the learning curve.
“This strange opportunity came to me over the winter and I have to thank the team for making this possible.”