Bottas, Verstappen happy to risk it for fastest lap point
Bottas, Verstappen happy to risk it for fastest lap point
Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen moved to play down the importance of their late-race battle to secure the bonus point for fastest lap at the Australian Grand Prix, but both were happy to risk impressive outings in order to take the extra prize on offer in Melbourne.
Bottas ultimately took maximum points, adding the fastest lap to his race victory to take home 26 points from Albert Park.
The Finn told Mercedes "I want 26 points" while discussing the prospects of a late pit-stop in Melbourne – the Silver Arrows opting for a risk-averse strategy.
Bottas secured fastest lap seven times in 2018 – if points were on offer he would have finished two places higher in the drivers' standings, leapfrogging both Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen.
"Obviously it's a point and if you get three of those or more it's going to make a big difference at the end of the year," Bottas said.
Toto ???? “I think I have seen most of the races in Valtteri’s career, in all categories, and this was the strongest.” #AusGP pic.twitter.com/Gp5bo7x00q
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) March 18, 2019
"You never know. One point can make a difference in the end.
"For sure we're willing to risk but still knowing that if you're about to get 20 or 18 points or 15, whatever, they are still more important than getting one extra so you need to calculate the risk but today was worth it, within a stop for an extra set of tyres for it, but with the worn tyres I went for a quick lap and it was worth it."
Verstappen set the fastest lap with four tours remaining as he chased second-place Lewis Hamilton in Melbourne, only for Bottas to resume top spot on the penultimate lap.
The Dutchman added: "There are 21 possible points you can get so it can help but like Valtteri said, at the end of the day it's most important to score 25 or 18, 15, 10.
"Try to go for one more and then it goes wrong, it can happen sometimes but anyway, I think in some situations like today, I was pushing anyway to try and get Lewis so it happened that I was doing, at that time, the fastest lap. It's nice if it happens."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
BLOW for former F1 champion as Mercedes preferences revealed
- 31 minutes ago
F1 boss HITS BACK at star driver over schedule complaints
- 1 hour ago
F1 2025 Driver Lineup: Big names on the move as half the grid reshuffles for next season
- 2 hours ago
Haas announce Hulkenberg EXIT as F1 star's new team confirmed
- Today 11:27
F1 champion claims Drive to Survive success was 'very lucky'
- Today 13:59
F1 franchise welcomes return of INCREDIBLE feature
- Today 12:59
Related news
F1 winner stars in HILARIOUS viral clip as rivals hail 'legend'
F1 star admits Red Bull concern which affects the 'whole wide world'
F1 winner shares HIGH praise for key figure in team's turnaround
F1 star in 'best version' claim ahead of 2024 season
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860