Bottas vows to assist Hamilton with "whatever I can"

Valtteri Bottas has vowed to do "whatever I can" to assist team-mate Lewis Hamilton from the front row of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Mercedes locked out the front row of the grid in Jeddah after Max Verstappen hit a wall at the last turn of his final hot lap when he was on course to snatch pole.

Although open with regard to his own race-winning ambitions, Bottas was quick to emphasise his willingness to assist both Hamilton and Mercedes as a team.

"Of course, I want to get the win but first things first, we need to focus on the teams' championship and Lewis is still fighting for the title, I am not," said Bottas, competing in his 100th grand prix weekend with Mercedes.

"So I will do my best with whatever I can and at the same time I will try to enjoy [the race]."

The circuit has been met with widespread praise from the drivers, including Bottas who on Friday said over team radio: "F**k, this track is cool!"

Expressing thanks to his mechanics for performing an engine change in the two-hour window between final practice and qualifying, Bottas added: "It was an important qualifying. For me, it was a bit of a struggle in practice three.

"We actually had to change an engine and the guys could just finish the car before qualifying and everything was working fine so I was happy.

"The last lap was on the limit and I enjoyed it but it is a tough track, pushing one lap after the other and the grip really doesn't drop so it is quite tough."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

When Lewis Hamilton last won an F1 race as the long wait continues for Ferrari megastar

• Today 00:20

How US F1 fans can watch 2026 Barcelona Grand Prix for FREE

• Yesterday 23:45

F1 star Lando Norris' girlfriend Magui Corceiro addresses 'fake relationship' claim

• Yesterday 22:44

F1 News Today: Monaco Grand Prix result could change AGAIN as Mercedes call in lawyers

• Yesterday 22:35

Mercedes blows up on last lap to hand Ferrari an unlikely F1 Barcelona win

• Yesterday 21:58

Max Verstappen promoted after late disqualification announced

• Yesterday 20:58