Bottas was the only driver inside the top ten to start F1’s sprint race on the red-ജmarked soft tyres.

Typically, the softer rubber gives you an advantage off the line but Bottas couldn’t make the most of it, settling in behind teammate Lewis Hamilton, with Verstapp﷽en enjoying a great star💙t from second, moving into the lead of the race at Turn 1.

Speakin💞g after the sprint race, Bottas believed it was worth gambling on the soft tyres even though he couldn't move up from third on the grid.

“Yes, we tried to do something different,” Bottas said. “Obviously, the target was to try and get Max at t🏅he start or during the first lap but it didn’t happen, as he had a good start as well. In Turn One I was slightly blocked, so I couldn’t really use the momentum.

“But we tried and, ꦬin the end, still managed to keep the place using the Soft tyre, eꦉven though there was some blistering, so, it’s OK.”

𒀰Despite running on significa💟ntly lower fuel loads, the majority of the grid still suffered significant tyre blistering.

With temperatures forecast to be even warmer on Sunday, Bottas reckons blistering will beಌ the main factor in deciding the grand prix.

“Yes, defi𒁏nitely. I think today showed that tomorrow it’s not going to be easy and if it’s going to be warmer we may as well see more issues.” Bottas added. “At least now we are definitely aware and tomorrow, anything can happen, really.”