Bottas relieved: "This was the maximum today"

Valtteri Bottas secured a podium finish at the Styrian Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon. The Finnish driver stayed ahead of Sergio Pérez to finish third.

Bottas had an excellent qualifying session on Saturday afternoon, setting the second-fastest time, but a mistake in free practice meant he missed out on that position. As a result, he appeared on the grid in fifth place. "Because of the bad start, this was the maximum today. It was important to go for the points together. We hope to do the same next week," he commented after the race.

Red Bull Racing made a final attempt to overtake Bottas in the closing stages of the GP by allowing Pérez to come in. However, he came up short of a podium finish. "It was very close at the end and there was little lead. It was the best they could do. However, I am happy that we were able to defend it and that we are on the podium."

Austria GP

Bottas is hopeful that things will improve next weekend when the drivers take to the track once again in Austria. "No penalties and a good qualifying. Then we can go," Bottas said.