Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

Super Formula Autopolis round cancelled by heavy rain

Super Formula
Autopolis
Super Formula Autopolis round cancelled by heavy rain

McLaren: F1 in conversation over future engine hardware tweaks

Formula 1
McLaren: F1 in conversation over future engine hardware tweaks

Ogier: Solberg WRC Canary Islands fight is a rarity in modern rally

WRC
Rally Islas Canarias
Ogier: Solberg WRC Canary Islands fight is a rarity in modern rally

WRC Canary Islands: Ogier and Solberg set for final-day duel

WRC
Rally Islas Canarias
WRC Canary Islands: Ogier and Solberg set for final-day duel

Why Marquez avoided a penalty for his pitlane entry in the Spanish MotoGP sprint

MotoGP
Spanish GP
Why Marquez avoided a penalty for his pitlane entry in the Spanish MotoGP sprint

Can Ducati end Aprilia's MotoGP winning streak at the Spanish GP?

Feature
MotoGP
Spanish GP
Can Ducati end Aprilia's MotoGP winning streak at the Spanish GP?

DTM Red Bull Ring: Preining beats Engel to win opener

DTM
Red Bull Ring
DTM Red Bull Ring: Preining beats Engel to win opener

MotoGP Spanish GP: Marquez wins chaotic sprint race despite crash

MotoGP
Spanish GP
MotoGP Spanish GP: Marquez wins chaotic sprint race despite crash

Bottas will not back up Vettel to aid Hamilton's F1 title bid

Austrian Grand Prix pole position starter Valtteri Bottas says he will not back up Sebastian Vettel during the race in an attempt to help Mercedes Formula 1 team-mate Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton was third fastest in qualifying at the Red Bull Ring, but will start eighth thanks to a five-place penalty for a gearbox change.

This puts him six places behind world championship rival Vettel, who starts on the front row alongside Bottas.

"From what I have seen in the pre-race strategy notes, that kind of plan is not on those notes," said Bottas.

"We need to focus on trying to have a good start to the race and we need to win the race.

"Lewis can fight back from where he is starting. If you start playing games it gets tricky, if the car behind gets DRS and the slipstream, then with just one mistake they can get the win."

Hamilton believes there is no point in Bottas attempting to help him and has backed him to go all-out for victory.

"It makes no sense for Valtteri to slow down, so he will push as hard as he can to win the race," said Hamilton.

Hamilton, who finished second from ninth on the grid in 2014, admitted he is not thinking of victory tomorrow.

"Valtteri has been quickest all weekend, so it's not really in my mind at the moment," said Hamilton.

"I am pretty sure back then [2014] there was a bigger difference of speed delta with the other cars.

"It is more unlikely than it was then, but I will give it everything I can and of course I will be happy if I get up there."

Previous article Bottas beats Vettel to Austrian GP pole, Hamilton to start eighth
Next article McLaren's Brown says F1 owner Liberty Media should buy Silverstone

Top Comments

Latest news