Finn shows Lewis and Seb the way

VALTTERI BOTTAS tore up the script in Melbourne to put Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel on notice for 2019.

‘The Flying Finn’ started second on the grid, sandwiched between his two illustrious rivals who boast nine world titles between them.

Mercedes team-mate Hamilton was steeling himself for a bigger challenge this season than last, with Vettel’s Ferrari reported to be in good shape to provide that test.

But as they took the first corner of the new campaign, Bottas left the pair standing, raced into an early lead, and did not look back as he claimed a commanding victory Down Under.

He finished more than 20 seconds clear of an out-ofsorts Hamilton and even clinched a bonus point for the fastest lap of the race to come away with a full 26 points.

Having spent a full season watching Hamilton’s tail lights and hearing about how good a No.2 he was, this was sweet music for Bottas, who delivered a message to his critics.

“To whom it may concern, f*** you,” he muttered on his team radio after taking the chequered flag.

Hamilton had to settle for second, the fourth time in as many years that he has taken pole position in Australia but finished behind the leader.

He said: “It’s a good weekend for the team, so I have to be happy for everyone. Valtteri drove an incredible race today and deserved it. It’s a great start to the year and it’s what we could have hoped for for the team.

“I had Max (Verstappen) covered behind me and I had some ideas of where the pace went, but I’ll go through it with my engineers. I’ll just train and work hard to stay and improve for next time.”

Speculation

Bottas’ triumph came off the back of a hugely frustrating 2018 campaign, in which he failed to register a single victory as Hamilton romped to 11 triumphs.

He showed signs of discontent last year when he angrily reacted to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff’s passing comment referring to him as a “sensational wingman”.

The Silver Arrows even ordered Bottas, who was leading the Russian Grand Prix, to let Hamilton ahead in a bid to prevent Vettel from winning the Sochi race.

The 29-year-old driver finished that campaign hounded by doubts and with speculation over the security of his race seat.

With Esteban Ocon waiting in the wings as Mercedes’ reserve driver, the former Williams racer went into the winter break desperate to bounce back – and he did it in style.

“The start was really good,” said Bottas after his first win since the 2017 Abu Dhabi GP.

“It was definitively my best race ever. I don’t know what happened – everything felt so good, I had everything under control and it was so good. Truly enjoyable, and I’m going to enjoy the day.

“I knew I could do it, I had done it before, it was about being at my best level, at one in the car. When you’re really on it, it feels kind of easy.

In the end, it isn’t but that’s what you brain tells you.”

Verstappen pushed Hamilton all the way, but ultimately had to make do with a respectable third place for

Red Bull.

Vettel, meanwhile, trudged home fourth and was left scratching his head as to why Ferrari were so far off the pace this weekend.