Bottas: 'Hamilton had a free stop'

Valtteri Bottas managed to maintain his pole advantage at the British GP against his teammate Lewis Hamilton, but destiny smiled on the national star of the Silverstone event.

The five-time world champion took advantage of the entry of the safety car following Antonio Giovinazzi’s exit from the track (Alfa Romeo) to make his pit stop when the Finn had already changed his tires and still had to make a stop.

“I congratulate Lewis. I stopped first and managed the gap. It was our tactic, explained the Finn at the finish of the British GP. The safety car arrived and he then got a free stop. I had returned to the mediums and had to make another stop. It wasn't really my day, but I hope the next race goes better. »

If Valtteri Bottas is the championship leader's closest rival, his delay on Lewis Hamilton now stands at 39 points. If the Briton has 7 successes this season, the Finn has only won twice.

“This weekend is still positive. I was the fastest on the track yesterday and my race pace was also good. I keep fighting”, promised the second driver of the star-studded team.

Discover the analysis of the British GP carried out by our special correspondents in issue 2225 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version on all platforms, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.