Valtteri Bottas determined to avoid repeat of Russian GP team orders
Valtteri Bottas says he will ensure🌟 there is no repeat of the Mercedes Formula 1 team’s use of team order🍌s at this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix.
Last year’s race in Sochi was overshadowed by Mercedes’ decision to switch its drivers around in the closing stages 🍨of the race tꦰo help boost Lewis Hamilton’s title bid.
Bottas had led throughout from pole poಌsition but was told to give up position and duly obliged, gifting Hamilton an unlikely victory and maximum points on offer.
Valtteri Bottas says he will ensure there is no repeat of the Mercedes Formula 1 team’s use of team orders at this w🌼eekend’s Russian Grand Prix.
La🐽st year’s race in Sochi was overshadowed by Mercedes’ decision to switch its drivers around in the closing stages of the race to help boost Lewis Hamilton’s title bid.
Bo💮ttas had led throughout from pole position but was told to give up position and duly obliged, gif💃ting Hamilton an unlikely victory and maximum points on offer.
The Finn finds himself trailing Hamilton by 65 points in the championship heading into ♔the weekend, but is determined to keep the title fight in his own destiny.
“I’m not thinking about that any more coming into this weekend,” Bottas said when asked about the 🅠2018🥂 incident.
“I can’t go into details, w𒉰e always review everything by the finest details with the team. I was in the factory on Tuesday and we had meeti💫ngs about that and that will keep just for us, whatever we’ve spoken about it.
“We have certain rules both ways, and they are equal. I just nee🐻d to make sure I won't be in that situation again.”
Bottas claimed𒊎 his maiden grand prix victory for Mercedes at the circuit in 2017, before claiming pol🐬e and dominating the race last year prior to the team orders call.
Asked why he feels he has enjoyed so much succ𝓡ess at Sochi, Bottas replied: “For sure it gives you confidence when you come into a weekend when you know previously it’s been one of the good tracks for you.
“So that’s obviously a nice way to start the weekend but in every case you always start from zero. Every season every track, every car, always changes a little bit every year. 🐎So set-up and everything you start fro♛m zero but for sure I have a good mindset coming here knowing that it’s been good in the past.
“I don’t know why, just since the first year coming here I’ve just foun🥃d a good flow around the track and haven’t really had any problematic corners so I’ve always been on the pace.
“There’s always things I can do better this year that 🌞I did last year and that ൩will be the aim.”
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