Bottas lets himself go over the team radio: 'I don't understand those people'

Valttri Bottas lashed out at his critics after his victory in the Russian Grand Prix. After crossing the finish line, the Mercedes driver said on the team radio: 'To whom it may concern, f * ck you'. At the press conference, the Finn explains where his frustration comes from which was aimed towards his critics.

Bottas defeated Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton on Sunday afternoon in Sochi. It had been a while since the 31-year-old driver made to the top step of the podium. "Honestly I just (don’t) get the people who has the need to criticise people," said Bottas. "You know, there’s been people telling me that I should not bother, I should give up but how I am, I will never do that so I just wanted to, again, send my best wishes to them."

Hamilton's teammate, therefore, has sufficient confidence in his own ability. "But the main thing is I’m confident, when I come to every race weekend, I’m confident and I believe I can do it and that’s how I’m always going to be. You have to have that mindset so yeah, I’m glad. Even yesterday [Saturday] was tough, I didn’t give up, I looked at it positively, I knew there would be opportunities and things came to me today," he continues.

There are 44 points between the top two drivers in the World Championship. With seven races remaining, Bottas still has the title in his own hands because if he manages to win the rest of the Grands Prix he will be the world champion of 2020. "I hope I can encourage people not to give up because that’s the biggest mistake you can do in your life."