In season-opener, Bottas sheds his ‘wingman’ tag
He’s been hungry.
For the last few years, 29-yearold Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas would start the racing season feeling physically sick. Stockily built compared to his F1 peers, the Mercedes driver was forced to stave off excess weight while training for the year ahead. It is the same logic that keeps jockeys petite. In a new rule this year, leaner drivers no longer have an advantage. Drivers may weigh up to 80kg, and those weighing less will be given requisite ballast to weigh them down.
“I’ve been able to actually eat,” Bottas told the press last week. “I feel good.”
On Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix, it showed. Bottas thundered past teammate Lewis Hamilton at the start, leaving him a distant second, blazing an astonishingly dominant lead. He won by over 20 seconds, getting 25 championship popoints,ts, whilee easeasilyy scoscoringg tthe e Fastest Lap, which, in another new rule I’m sure he likes, netted him another point.
This throwing down of the gauntlet is thrilling. In 2018, he didn’t win a single race, with Mercedes using him like a supportdriver and frequently moving him over for Hamilton, who won the title while Bottas finished a lowly fifth. He obeyed orders, but the word ‘wingman’ stung. This Sunday, when Mercedes radioed Bottas not to take risks, his response was unambiguous: “Ok, but I want the 26 points.”
His could be the underdog story that fuels this season, as the Mercedes domination appears unchecked. The cars look skittish but attack the corners ferociously, frequently lapping over half a second faster than rivals. The 2019 season could end up a Merc-vs-merc battle.
The eternally exciting Max Verstappen sparked joy for Red Bull with an impressive third place, giving his new Honda engine a terrific debut — the first podium for the engine manufacturer since 2008. Behind the top teams, the midfield battle looks breathlessly tight. In this race last year, 5 teams saw each of their drivers finish in the top 10. This year, the top 10 places were spread across 8 teams. From Haas to Alfa Romeo to Renault, this competition will be tasty. Ferrari was woeful. Sebastian Vettel limped after being commandingly overtaken by Verstappen, unable to keep pace with those ahead; Charles Leclerc drove into the grass, and was eventually instructed to stay behind Vettel. Driving 4th and 5th, the Ferraris had a big enough cushion on Kevin Magnusson in 6th for either (or both) of them to take a last-minute pit stop and go for the fastest lap using brand new tyres, but they held position, bewildering race commentators and analysts. I believe this to be strategic cowardice: What if they’d come in for fresh rubber and still come up short? Today, the driver who declared he wanted the point was too majestic to deny. Bon appetit, Valtteri Bottas.