Lauda defends strategy that cost Bottas podium

Valtteri Bottas was unfortunate yet again as he just missed out on a podium after his tyres went off in the dying laps of the British Grand Prix.

Mercedes opted not to pit Bottas and his team mate Lewis Hamilton despite Ferrari and Red Bull bringing in both of their drivers after Marcus Ericsson heavy crash brought out the safety car.

It worked for Ferrari, with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen securing first and third place respectively, as Bottas’ expense.

This event is the most recent of a string of incidents that have cost the Finn many points this season, after a puncture in Azerbaijan cost him the win, and almost certain podium finishes ruined by a first lap tangle with Vettel in France and reliability in Austria.

As a result, Bottas sits fifth in the championship, 67 points behind leader Vettel.

Despite losing positions late in Sunday’s race, Niki Lauda says that Mercedes pit call was correct to leave the drivers out: “We were absolutely right, we did nothing wrong.”

“Valtteri had some problems with the tyres near the end, yes, but if he had come in the pits he would have had even more trouble.

“The question is it’s such a close call, Bottas did a very good job to defend his position with Vettel as long as he could, but then it was over. It worked out for Lewis, it didn’t work out for Bottas.”