F1 News
Bottas "struggles" to "extract the maximum" when chasing cars ahead
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff thinks his driver Valtteri Bottas "struggles" during races when it comes to closing the gap to a car ahead and going for the overtake, although Wolff did add the Finn was "the fastest car" at Monza.
After the bizarre ending to qualifying on Saturday, Bottas started on P3, which is where he remained for a large chunk of the race.
In the closing stages, however, when his teammate Lewis Hamilton was chasing down race leader Charles Leclerc, Bottas found an extra gear as he closed the gap rapidly on the leading duo.
When Hamilton made a rare mistake to allow Bottas past, the 30-year-old seemed primed to hunt down and overtake the Ferrari of Leclerc, but he struggled to get within striking distance. According to Wolff, this is something Bottas needs to work on.
“It looks like he struggles a little bit when he gets in the wake of the car to extract the maximum,” the Austrian told RaceFans.net.
“Lewis in that position is able to somehow get closer and put himself in a position to go for a move.
“It’s something he’s got to work on but on the positive side his racing was great today. He was really fast. Probably in pure race time the fastest car.”
The one time Bottas did come within striking distance, the number 77 misjudged the first chicane at Monza, costing him time and a potential move on a later lap.