Valtteri Bottas has insisted that he had the same pace as Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton at Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix, in the wake of missing out on victory.
Bottas claimed a dominant pole position but relinquished the lead to Hamilton on the long run to Turn 1, with the Briton going on to control proceedings thereafter.
Hamilton held an 11-second lead prior to the Safety Car period and stretched clear at the restart to cross the line four seconds in front of Bottas.
“Honestly from my feeling, there was no pace difference at all,” said Bottas.
“I know the difference, when you are at the front you can control the pace, you can manage the tyres completely the way you want in the free air.
“At this type of track it makes such a difference, you feel it even when you are four seconds away, you feel it in the corners that you are sliding more.
“It doesn’t need much more sliding and your tyres are going to be finished earlier.
“I am not worried at all about the race pace, I think it was pretty identical. I think the main thing is who ends up first after Turns 1 and 2.”
Bottas pinpointed his sub-par getaway down to an abnormally oscillating clutch and expressed his confidence that a repeat will not occur.
“We are still investigating and we can definitely see the vibration on the clutch and the abnormal behaviour which has cost me that few crucial metres on the way to Turn 1,” he said.
“As a driver it’s annoying but it can happen but knowing this team we will fix it and it won’t happen again.”
Bottas now trails Hamilton by seven points in the championship.
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