[ad_1]
Nine-time GP winner Valtteri Bottas set the second fastest qualifying time for the Bahrain GP, but the Finn doesn’t understand the difference to the Briton: “I find it confusing.”
Valtteri Bottas had calculated that he had a good chance of achieving his 16th pole position in Bahrain. He likes to drive in the Sakhir desert, three years ago he captured his first Formula 1 pole here. But after final training for the Bahrain GP, Bottas seems lost: “My lap felt good, and that’s exactly the problem. I was happy with my lap, then I looked at the screen in the booth and could hardly believe my eyes. The distance amazes me. The feeling for the car is correct, but the lap time is not, that’s confusing. I’ll have to see that in detail later. “
“I made almost no mistakes, at least not big ones that explained the gap. There is no fundamental problem with voting or anything. Maybe it’s because I tried a different vote than Lewis, we’ll see if it’s worth it on Sunday. “
“We also lost time because we had to test the 2021 tires on Friday. If I could turn back the clock, I would certainly try something different when it comes to settings. “
Is it unusual for the Finn to opt for a different solution when voting? Valtteri: “It depends on the route. Sometimes we are very close together during setup, sometimes the differences are greater. “
When asked how he managed to stop his powerful teammate at the Grand Prix, Bottas said: “I have to show a perfect race, that’s my goal. And I expect a lot of resistance from Max: Red Bull Racing tends to be more competitive in the race than in final training. “
Qualifying, Bahrain
1. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:27 264 mins
2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Mercedes, +0.289 seconds
3. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 0.414
4. Alex Albon (T), Red Bull Racing, +1,010
5. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Racing Point, +1,058
6. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Renault, +1,153
7. Esteban Ocon (F), Renault, +1155
8. Pierre Gasly (F), AlphaTauri, +1 184
9. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +1 278
10. Daniil Kvyat (RUS), AlphaTauri, +1,354
11. Sebastian Vettel (D), Ferrari, +1,885
12. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +1.901
13. Lance Stroll (CDN), Racing Point, +2,293
14. George Russell (GB), Williams, +3 954
15. Carlos Sainz (E), McLaren, no time
16. Antonio Giovinazzi (I), Alfa Romeo, +2,227
17. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN), Alfa Romeo, +2 546
18. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +2,847
19. Romain Grosjean (F), Haas, +2 874
20. Nicholas Latifi (CDN), Williams, +2,918
