Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff says he underဣstands Valtteri Bottas’ frustrations but dismissed his driver’s claim that his Bahrain Grand Prix strategy was “not quite ൲normal”.

Bottas was left unhappy with the strategic choices made by Mercedes as he finished a distant third in the season-opening race at Sakhir, with the Finn describing being stuck on the same strategy as teammate Lewis Hamilton as 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:“defensive” aღnd “not quite norma𒁏l”.

Mercedes decided that 𒆙a strategy of trying to undercut Red Bull Max Ver𒁃stappen - as successfully pulled off by Hamilton - was the best option after Bottas lost vital time when he fell behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the start.

Having regrouped f🦹ollowing his early setback, Bottas did bring himself into play during the middle phase of the race as he shadowed the leading duo, only for a botched pit stop to ruin his chances. Mercedes stopped Bottas for a third time towards the end in a bid to score the extra point for fastest lap, which he claimed.

“I think there wasn't any strategy on the table,” Wolff said. 𒐪“Because we tried to undercut also with Valtteri that I th💮ink would change race for him.

“The outcome we wouldn’t wish for was that he lost a position at the start of the race and he kind of couldn't recover the gap to the two guys in front. The pitstop was there to undercut Max and I think we would probabl♍y have been successful, but we had a problem with the right front wheel gun.

“Then I don't know what other strategy we could have run. The one stop was clearly not possible. The m♒edium wouldn't have made it to the end, the h🐻ard in the middle stage was running out of performance.

“There was no other option available. But I totally understand the frustration in the car when you have limited information and say 'I think we c༺ould have done something else.’”

Hamilton went on to win by just 0.745s over Verstappen following a thrilling conclusion to the race, while Bottas finished nearl🏅y 40 second꧙s behind the pair.