Valtteri Bottas: Eifel GP F1 pole lap was “spot-on”

Valtteri Bottas says his lap which secured pole position for the Eifel Grand Prix was “spot-on” as he looks to win back-to-back races for the first time in his Formula 1 career.

Bottas trailed Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen by 0.5s in Q2, but a last-gasp effort for the Finn put him over 0.2s clear of the field as he secured his 14th career pole.

Reflecting on his final lap in Q3, Bottas called it “spot-on” and “just what I needed” as he aims to close down the 44-point gap to Hamilton in the drivers’ championship.

“Thanks, it’s such a nice feeling when you get it in the last lap, in the last chance,” Bottas said. “In the end, the lap in Q3 was spot on, just what I needed and it was nice to get it together. Pretty tricky, of course, with short practice and these conditions, getting the tyres in the sweet spot. That was one of the bigger things today, I think.”

With track temperatures so low due to the cool conditions, Bottas says getting the tyres into the right window was the key to taking pole at the Nurburgring.

“Yes, of course, we’re leaving the pit more or less at the same time and it was his decision to go first,” Bottas added. “There are always different things you can do in the out lap, whether is about braking, weaving and this kind of things but, ultimately, I got the tyres there and the lap was really nice, I really enjoyed it.”