Bottas “tried everything” to beat “faultless” Hamilton at Tuscan F1 GP

Valtteri Bottas says he could do no more to beat Lewis Hamilton to the race victory at the Tuscan Grand Prix.

Bottas made the perfect start from second on the grid, taking the lead ahead of Hamilton.

Following the second standing start, Bottas relinquished the lead to Hamilton after he made the most of the slipstream and passed around the outside of Turn 1.

The Finn had a final opportunity to reclaim the lead on the third standing start but dropped behind the Renault of Daniel Ricciardo, who he re-overtook a lap later for second place.

Reflecting on another race where he lost out to team-mate Hamilton, Bottas said: “I think it’s disappointing, for sure. Frustrating isn’t the right word, because I felt I really tried everything. At least the first part, the first start was absolutely perfect, on the re-start I managed to keep my position and felt that the pace was good. Once I lost the position to Lewis, on the second start, I tried everything I could to get it back but I couldn’t.

“He was faultless today and it was a pretty crazy race, it feels like we had three races instead of one. I tried and I feel it’s just a matter of time before things will go my way. It will come and I’ll keep pushing.”

Mugello hosted its first ever F1 championship race this weekend and Bottas is hopeful traditional circuits like it will remain on future calendars.

“I think it’s great, I think it should really be on the calendar every year,” Bottas added. “It definitely goes high up on my list! It’s not too dangerous – well, motorsports is dangerous, that’s how it goes, but it’s an old school circuit and we all love it.”