Bottas insistant confidence lifted from Bahrain weekend
Valtteri Bottas says his confidence has been boosted rather than diminished following the Bahrain Grand Prix, despite being disappointed to not turn his pole into a victory.
Bottas secured his maiden pole position in qualifying at the Sakhir circuit, pipping team-mate Lewis Hamilton before leading the race in the early stages.
However, a rear tyre pressure issue prevented the Finn from extending the gap over second placed Sebastian Vettel and he eventually finished third behind Vettel and Hamilton.
Although he was forced to move aside for Hamilton, Bottas insists he feels more comfortable in the Mercedes and is still has an outside shot at the drivers’ championship.
Asked if his performance in Bahrain had left him either more or less confident going forwards, Bottas commented: “I think more. The weekend was nice that I could perform a bit better in qualifying, so definitely from Australian, china, and here, I feel I can get more out of the car in qualifying.
“Even if the first race in Australia, and also in China when the car was working, the race pace has been good. So I know the race pace in there – this weekend also in qualifying. It is just the race here is a question mark.
“We still have 17 races to go. That is a lot. So I’m not thinking too far. I still feel it is early days.”
The 27-year-old still showed his disappointment of not convert his pole into victory. Asked if his pole position meant the weekend was a success, he added: “I think it’s not… losing two places from where you start.
“Waking up, the only thing in my mind was the win. As a team, at least, we should have won but we didn’t. Ferrari did a better job.
“Also for me, leaving here today is a little bit strange feeling. I don’t know why the pace is so poor. I know the gap that was there doesn’t just come from driving.
“I’m sure we’ll find out something why I struggled more than Lewis.”