Valtteri Bottas was in fifth place in Miami time trial. Only Ferrari and Red Bull drivers could advance. The Finn was very confident in Viaplay’s interview after the time trials.
8.5. 00: 56 • Updated May 8. 01:04
Valtteri Bottas tinted the Miami F1 race in time for Saturday. The Finnish driver was as fifth as the drivers of the top teams Ferrari and Red Bull.
Bottas had had a very awkward weekend before the time trials. In the first exercises, the Finn rushed out, and he did not get on the track at all in the second exercises. In addition, Bottas had to replace parts with the car’s power unit due to the crash. Bottas introduced his third turbo and turbo controller. There are three allowed for the season, so the following substitutions will mean a starting screen penalty.
Even time trials did not leave the Finns without any problems. The Finn was among the last to take a quick lap in the first section. In the rest of the traffic jam, Bottas could no longer improve his time when he got stuck in a traffic jam. The watch had expired.
Bottas got excited, but was last in the 15th place. In the second section, Bottas stuck hard names and was as high as sixth. In the closing section, Bottas further improved by a notch and was fifth. For example, Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton (6th) and George Russell (12th) were left behind.
Bottas described his time trial to Viaplay as good.
– Especially in the second and third sections, a good rhythm began to be found. Compared to yesterday, a good comeback was obtained. The settings were correct. I had time to find the rhythm. Got everything out of the car. The car was fast today, Bottas described.
Bottas had taken a little model from his teammate Guanyu Zhoun adjustments when he had little access to drive on Friday.
According to the Finn, however, not much adjustments had to be made. According to Bottas, little fine-tuning was made to the time trial after the last exercises.
– By the way, there has been no terrible need to make changes this year, Bottas says.
He especially emphasized the rhythm of driving behind the success.
– Rhythm is everything in this track, which is difficult and has poor grip at times. All you had to do was focus on doing your own thing and not caring about others, Bottas said.
A Finn expects a lot from Sunday’s race. So only four drivers from Ferrari and Red Bull are ahead.
– For the first time this season, I’m on the clean side of the starting grid. Hopefully there will be a good start, and no drama. Hopefully there will be a clean race, Bottas said before shaking with confidence.
– That podium is not far away. I think that is a good goal.
Ferrari Red Bull stronger in top fight
In the time trial pole position battle, Ferrari took a longer streak from Red Bull. Charles Leclerc was 0.190 seconds faster than his teammate Carlos Sainz. Max Verstappen lost just five thousandths of a second to Sainz and was third. Sergio Perez was left in fourth.
Of the Ferrari duo, Sainz was still happy as he crashed during Friday’s rehearsals.
– I recovered from yesterday’s hard crash. It wasn’t easy to regain self-confidence on a track like this like Miami, but I kept my head cold until the third section, Sainz described.
– I was able to do a couple of good laps, but not quite to the point. But from the point of view, I take this second place.
However, immediately after the time trial, the Dutch driver was satisfied with his result. During Friday’s first rehearsals, Verstappen knocked on the wall. The car’s gearbox was replaced. The second section ended only after a few rounds of hydraulic problems.
– I drove literally four or five laps yesterday, so today it was still about learning the track. I tried to find a decent balance for the car. I was a little surprised that we were so competitive, Verstappen says.
Verstappen drove the bend wide in his final fast lap and didn’t even get to challenge the Ferraris properly at the end.
– This track is not easy to learn. Sure, he wants to be on the pole, but we did a really good job from the start. We need to start making these weekends less difficult.
– We have a good opportunity tomorrow. We have momentum. The car is behaving pretty well. I look forward to tomorrow.
Pile driver Leclerc is also aware that the competition is getting tough.
– Red Bull is extremely fast on straight lines. We are quick to bend. There will be a tough challenge tomorrow, Leclerc said.
The Miami F1 race will run on Sunday from 10:30 pm Finnish time. The race is followed moment by moment on Sports’ website.