From left: Valtteri Bottas, Sebastian Vettel and Ricciardo
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas made a great start from pole position to win the Austrian Grand Prix yesterday, while Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel finished just behind in second to extend his championship lead over main rival Lewis Hamilton to 20 points.
Bottas did just enough to hold off Vettel’s late charge, with the German driver crossing the line 0.6 seconds behind.
“He was catching up. I had a massive blister in the rear left [tire],” Bottas said. “I was losing more and more stability of the rear. I was happy the race ended on that lap.”
Vettel was frustrated at missing out on a 46th career win by so little.
“I was told he was in trouble, I was pushing. The car came alive and I had really good pace,” Vettel said. “I think I needed one more lap because he was really struggling up the hill.”
Vettel had never finished higher than fourth in Austria, twice retiring from races.
“I really wanted to win, so not entirely happy,” Vettel said.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo showed great ability to defend third place from Hamilton, who almost passed the Australian driver on the last two laps but had to settle for fourth.
Bottas, who won in Russia, clinched the second victory of his career — and both have come since he joined Mercedes from Williams this season. His first career podium was on the same Spielberg track, when he finished third for Williams in 2014.
Bottas is now only 15 points behind Hamilton in the overall standings and close to contending for the title.
“I believe and the team believes,” Bottas said. “We’re not even halfway yet.”
Raikkonen steers his car followed by Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton started from eighth on the grid on Sunday. The British driver had the third fastest qualifying time behind Vettel and Bottas, but was demoted five places for an unauthorized gearbox change after the last race in Azerbaijan two weeks ago, which Ricciardo won.
Ricciardo, who is fourth overall, clinched his fifth straight podium.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was slowed at the start by a clutch problem, which dropped him back in the field where he was collected by Alonso’s out-of-control McLaren — the fifth time in the last seven races Verstappen has failed to finish.
Bottas got away cleanly but Vettel contested the start on his radio, saying Bottas had jumped the lights. The Finnish driver was later cleared by stewards of any wrongdoing, and defended his lightning start.
“You are gambling between your reaction and guessing,” Bottas said. “Sometimes you are a bit late and today was my best reaction to the lights.”
Vettel emphatically disagreed.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Valtteri, he drove an excellent race,” Vettel said. “But I had a strong belief he had jumped the start. In my point of view his reaction [time] was inhuman.”
“The lights were held for a long time, more than normal. For sure he went, but the lights weren’t out,” Ricciardo said, backing Vettel up. “I guess he got lucky, It was on the edge. I don’t believe he reacted to the lights, looked like Valtteri jumped.”
The 10th race of an exciting season is the British GP at Silverstone next weekend. MDT/AP
