"I was not happy on a few occasions and I had one lock-up with 10-15 laps to go, which hurt the pace a bit, but other than that it was OK". We have had a tricky beginning of the year, and today it was very close.
"Ferrari has a good vehicle".
But Bottas, who replaced defending champion Nico Rosberg at Mercedes this year, was fastest out of the blocks when the lights turned green.
"I think there was more wrong than just one topic. So many things we have to look at to understand and try to find out how we can optimize the performance of the vehicle because we have a real fight". "Ultimately I was not quick enough, I could not put the auto where I was comfortable, and then in the race it was overheating so I just had to settle for fourth". If you think you are not able to win you should stay home, but to get confirmation and get a good result, that matters in this world.
It was the first time that he had finished off the podium since Malaysia in October 2016, when his engine expired while he was leading the race in what was ultimately a championship-deciding blow.
"And getting that first win, it definitely gives me confidence that I can do it even though I've always known I had the ability". It's going to be a massive fight, at least for the first half of the year.
Bottas was hired as a remedy to the fractious atmosphere created at Mercedes following the toxicity of Hamilton's rivalry with Nico Rosberg.
He said: "The relationship between the two of them is very much intact".
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The president issued a second, narrower order in early March, which is more likely to survive legal scrutiny. Even if the government prevails in the 4th Circuit, enforcement of the order will still be enjoined by U.S.
Vettel, on 86 points, leads Hamilton by 13 but Bottas is only 10 behind his team-mate on 63 and while discussion before Russian Federation centered on whether team orders would be imposed to favour Hamilton, the win has only strengthened Bottas's resolve to pursue the title.
Bottas' win, however, may make life awkward for Mercedes and Hamilton if Ferrari shows favour for Vettel, who has 86 points, with Kimi Raikkonen on 49. This provides Mercedes with a mighty problem in that they can not justify team orders if Bottas is doing the business on the track.
Daniel Ricciardo, in a Red Bull, was another early departure after just seven laps with brake problems. "It is going to be exciting", said the German.
After his first stop, Ferrari informed him of his delay on Valtteri Bottas.
Grosjean and Palmer's respective races lasted just two corners, with the former trying a pass at Turn 2 down the inside.
And when the race restarted, Bottas quickly set about extending his advantage.
"He said: "[Winning the title] has always been the only goal for me in my career but I have not had the chance to prove it. "It felt very good!"
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