Bottas and “the best race of his career”: reactions from the top 3 in Melbourne

After a perfect start, highlighted by overtaking Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas managed the race from start to finish without ever being troubled. With the second place secured by his teammate Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes starts the year in the best possible way by placing both its cars at the top of the championship. The German team sees its main rival Ferrari well behind in this first Grand Prix, already taking a 21-point lead in the constructors’ championship.

First: Valtteri Bottas

Winner satisfied, the Finn showed another side, beyond the beard. With 26 points, the Mercedes driver secured, in addition to the victory, the point for the fastest lap in the race.

“I don’t know what happened,” confided the winner of the day as he got out of the car, visibly surprised by his own pace.

« My start was really very good. I felt so good in the car, everything was under control. It was clearly the best race of my career ». The explanation for this victory certainly comes from his winter, spent reflecting on his situation at Mercedes. Bottas undertook real mental work, which paid off at Albert Park.

A dominant fourth career victory, and the fastest lap of the race 💪@ValtteriBottas claimed a maximum 2⃣6⃣ points down under!#AusGP 🇦🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/GOLN8UfwHo

— Formula 1 (@F1) 17 mars 2019

Second: Lewis Hamilton

He was the favorite after his pole position. Overtaken from the start, the reigning world champion was never able to keep up with Bottas. Trapped by a pit stop that was too early, Hamilton had a difficult end to the race, under pressure from Verstappen. Hamilton eventually conceded nearly 21 seconds at the finish but still praised the performance of the Finn and the one-two for the team.

« I’m obviously happy for the team, Valtteri had a fantastic race and really deserved it. It’s a great day for the team. »

Not very talkative, the driver with the number 44 indicated that the pressure put by Verstappen was not a problem, at least from his point of view.

This second place allows us to once again recognize that pole position is not synonymous with victory on Australian soil. Always starting at the front since 2014, Hamilton has only won once in six races, in 2015.

HAMILTON: “It was a good weekend for the team – Valtteri drove an incredible race today and truly deserved the win today” #AusGP 🇦🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/KiYvLLa5ao

— Formula 1 (@F1) 17 mars 2019

Third: Max Verstappen

“Happy” to have overtaken Vettel’s Ferrari on the track, Max Verstappen made the most of his Red Bull and confirms that Honda is currently on par with the Ferrari or Mercedes engine, the Japanese firm also secures its first podium since its return to Formula 1 in 2015.

Start the year on the podium, it’s a very positive beginning for the team. It’s also great for Honda, it’s their first podium in the V6 hybrid era. I am very happy, stated the Red Bull spearhead.

Adding: « the car performed well. I still had more grip with the medium tire. It was sometimes slippery with the wind ». After closing in on Hamilton, Verstappen still got stuck behind the Englishman. The Dutchman will have to settle for the third step of the podium, his first in Australia.

« I adjusted something on the steering wheel at the moment of braking. But anyway, it didn’t matter, I couldn’t catch up. Lewis had more speed compared to Sebastian. »

LAP 50/58

Verstappen was closing in on Hamilton, but he scampers across the grass at Turn 1 and loses ground on the world champion 😬#AusGP 🇦🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/rcS0Wo0BmN

— Formula 1 (@F1) 17 mars 2019