Bottas: "We feel we deserved it"

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas was upset with a second consecutive P2 finish today in China.

He had a great chance to usurp Sebastian Vettel in Bahrain but opted against attempting an overtake into Turn one, and seemingly had today’s race in his hands until Mercedes opted not to pit him under the safety car.

Daniel Ricciardo did pit under the safety car, and on new tyres, drove through the field, overtaking Bottas on the way to a teriffic win.

Bottas managed to hold off fellow countryman Kimi Raikkonen in the latter stages of the race, the Ferrari driver eventually coming home third.

“The race was going pretty well for us, we were looking strong until the safety car stop,” Bottas said. “Then we were in trouble with Daniel and nearly with Kimi in the end.

Bottas will surely be feeling heartbroken after two near-misses in as many weeks, but he now sits third in the standings, only five points behind team mate Lewis Hamilton and 14 away from Championship leader Sebastian Vettel as he chases his first world title.