Valtteri Bottas 'pissed off' with 2020 qualifying woe compared to Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

Bottas 'pissed off' with 2020 qualifying woe compared to Hamilton

Hamilton has scored five poles to Bottas' two this season

Ian Parkes

Tuesday 1 September 2020 09:06

Valtteri Bottas has expressed his frustration and annoyance at his failure to get on top of qualifying this season which has left him vulnerable to Lewis Hamilton's seventh Formula 1 title onslaught.

Following a positive start to the campaign at the season-opening race in Austria where Bottas claimed victory from pole, the Finn has since had no answer to what Mercedes team-mate Hamilton has thrown at him, both over one lap on a Saturday and during a race on Sunday.

Hamilton has responded with five poles and five wins from the last six races to open up a 50-point cushion over Bottas, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen his nearest challenger as the Dutchman is 47 points adrift.

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While Bottas is refusing to throw in the towel on his title challenge this year, he knows if he does not improve in qualifying, he is leaving himself vulnerable in races and the championship will be over sooner rather than later.

Conceding he found Hamilton's performance in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix "hard to match", he added: "Of course, it always comes from so many details, the out laps, getting the tyres in the perfect window, front and rear, the set-up and driving style.

"And when that one lap counts, yeah, Lewis has been really consistent, not making any mistakes in qualifying.

"As you look at the numbers he has had the upper hand this year in qualifying, which honestly pisses me off.

"But of course I’m trying, I do enjoy the challenge and I can’t wait for the next qualifying session this weekend [Italian Grand Prix at Monza]."

Bottas is aware qualifying is his Achilles heel this season as he feels he is driving well on a Sunday.

"The weekend really starts with qualifying, trying to be on pole, and then those weekends that don’t go for you, you really need to maximise the points," added Bottas.

"I've felt, for a long time now...actually the weekend was at least like a smooth weekend, without any issues. Just the qualifying was not good enough but I’m working on everything."

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