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Felipe Massa has hit back at claims he spoiled Williams' shot at victory at the British grand prix. Some believe that if teammate Valtteri Bottas had passed the Brazilian rather than been told to hold station after their meteoric starts, the Finn might have charged away from the two Mercedes at Silverstone.
"I think I could have opened a gap," Bottas is quoted by Brazil's UOL Esporte. "When Felipe stopped, I was a second faster. I had a lot of pace in the first stint. It's always easy to talk afterwards," he acknowledged, "but I think it could have been better for me."
But when asked about Bottas' claims, Massa responded: "That's exaggerated. If he was so much faster, he would have passed me. But he tried and failed." (GMM)
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C. Sainz jr
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Replies (2)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It should perhaps be noted that Bottas didn't exactly fail the first times around, he was told off by the team and aborted each attempt. Later he lost his chance at overtaking and couldn't get close again.
Bobdredds
Posts: 1
I if you support team orders you have a point but other than that Felipe made what was probably the best start of the season and even Lewis couldn't pass him. If Valteri wants to be ahead of Felipe then he has to do it in qualifying and ontrack. Asking for Felipe to let him through when neither are in the running for the championship is rather weak. In the end you have to earn your position and accept the consequences when you are beaten by your team mate and shudda coulda woulda is irelevent.