Red Bull will not stay in lead Formula 1 fight – Mercedes' Bottas

A good strategy call with Daniel Ricciardo allowed Red Bull to run a longer first stint and leapfrog Bottas for third in the pitstops, knocking Mercedes off the podium for the first time this year.

Recent updates have helped Red Bull move forward with its RB13 but Bottas suspects its strength in Monaco was more down to the track characteristics, and with power tracks coming up it may be a while before Red Bull returns to form.

"I reckon for now it's just Monaco because it's such a unique track," said the Finn about whether he felt Red Bull was again a permanent threat.

"It's all about downforce and mechanical grip, and having a good car over the bumps and change of direction.

"Canada is very different, it's full of medium-speed corners and chicanes.

"I think they are going to be [competitive] sooner or later. They are a strong team and they can make very quick cars, so we should not underestimate them.

"But I reckon Canada will be a bit more tricky for them."

Bottas said his hopes of holding on to the podium spot in Monaco were dashed by problems looking after tyres and managing brake temperatures.

"It's disappointing because third was possible but we definitely were more unlucky as well compared to Red Bull and Ricciardo," he said.

"While I was stuck behind Sainz, with overheating brakes, Daniel was setting good lap times. The pace of the Red Bulls was quite strong as well, they were going to challenge us.

"They saw the opportunity and they took it so for us it's disappointing to lose a few points like that."

Bottas also lamented his qualifying result, as the Finn lined up third on the grid - just 0.045 seconds off pole position.

"I think it was one of the best qualifying laps I've ever done," said the Finn.

"It could've been a completely different Sunday with five hundredths better but that's gone, and 'if' you can always say."