Valtteri Bottas admits Williams need to do better in future races after coming home a disappointing eighth in Melbourne
The Finn started sixteenth rather than the position he qualified for on after received a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change.
Bottas suffered a poor start, conceding into the first corner and finding himself behind the Sauber duo.
The 2011 GP3 champion started to pick off drivers in the opening dozen laps, he found himself driving past the likes of Marcus Ericsson and Pascal Wehrlein and up into thirteenth.
After benefitting from the red flag period, Bottas was forced to defend from the Toro Rossos in the dying moments of the race, but Max Verstappen’s spin meant that the Finn could focus on catching the Force India of Nico Hulkenberg.
Unfortunately, Bottas failed to pass the German but held off Carlos Sainz for eighth.
Bottas finished in eighth place and Massa’s fifth place finish ensured a double-points scoring finish for Williams.
After the race, Bottas said: “It has obviously been a very difficult week. The struggles we had with qualifying and then the grid penalty compromised the race.”
“We are definitely aiming for better positions, and myself personally, so I am looking forward to Bahrain because I am sure we can do better than this weekend.”
