Great guy Valtteri Bottas explains why Verstappen's overtake on him was so easy.
It seemed like a nice plan from Mercedes some time before this afternoon's race in Russia. With Verstappen behind the grid and Bottas only qualifying seventh, Das Haus decided to change the engine for VB77. The Finn therefore started in seventeenth, instead of seventh. The thinking in the paddock was that the move was intended to hold up Verstappen a bit in his advance.
But if that was indeed the plan, it failed miserably. Our favorite great guy was already passed by our favorite hero in the sixth round. It all went so smoothly that it almost seemed as if Bottas simply let Verstappen pass. Great then, you're done with that as a leader, being that your wingman is so lax.
In conversation with Sky Sports F1, Bottas explains why it was all so simple:
I didn't really see it coming. I'll have to check it out. He managed to push his way forward faster than I did.
Valtteri Bottas, probably looked at Putin's Datscha
Yeah, Max is driving faster than Bottas's eyes can see. The last sentence of BOT is also correct. For most of the race, the Finn again drowned in the gray middle bracket. It was only due to the rain at the end that a finish outside the top-10 was avoided. Bottas also admits that he struggled:
It was difficult to determine when to make the pit stop. I told the team I wanted to quit, but they weren't ready yet. It saved the race for me because I was really struggling. It was not the easiest race. I thought it would get better. Following some cars in some corners gave me understeer.
Valtteri Bottas, had expected more from the race at ‘his’ circuit
Which deed. Next year BOT will have one more chance to win the race at Sochi, before the race will be held at the Igora Drive circuit from 2023.