Bottas: I will ensure no repeat of Russia team orders

Valtteri Bottas says he will ensure there is no repeat of the Mercedes Formula 1 team’s use of team orders at this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix.

Last year’s race in Sochi was overshadowed by Mercedes’ decision to switch its drivers around in the closing stages of the race to help boost Lewis Hamilton’s title bid.

Bottas had led throughout from pole position but was told to give up position and duly obliged, gifting Hamilton an unlikely victory and maximum points on offer.

The Finn finds himself trailing Hamilton by 65 points in the championship heading into the weekend, but is determined to keep the title fight in his own destiny.

“I’m not thinking about that any more coming into this weekend,” Bottas said when asked about the 2018 incident.

“I can’t go into details, we always review everything by the finest details with the team. I was in the factory on Tuesday and we had meetings about that and that will keep just for us, whatever we’ve spoken about it.

“We have certain rules both ways, and they are equal. I just need to make sure I won't be in that situation again.”

Bottas claimed his maiden grand prix victory for Mercedes at the circuit in 2017, before claiming pole and dominating the race last year prior to the team orders call.

Asked why he feels he has enjoyed so much success at Sochi, Bottas replied: “For sure it gives you confidence when you come into a weekend when you know previously it’s been one of the good tracks for you.

“So that’s obviously a nice way to start the weekend but in every case you always start from zero. Every season every track, every car, always changes a little bit every year. So set-up and everything you start from zero but for sure I have a good mindset coming here knowing that it’s been good in the past.

“I don’t know why, just since the first year coming here I’ve just found a good flow around the track and haven’t really had any problematic corners so I’ve always been on the pace.

“There’s always things I can do better this year that I did last year and that will be the aim.”