Bottas not dwelling on disappointing Malaysia weekend

Valtteri Bottas is only looking forward after a disappointing outing last time out at the Malaysian Grand Prix. The race around the Sepang International Circuit just five days ago saw the Finn cross the line in fifth, just under a minute down on race winner Max Verstappen.

Bottas has seemingly struggled since F1 returned from its summer break at the end of August. As the sport travels immediately from Malaysia to Japan, Bottas is focused on looking ahead and will dig deep for a strong result. The 28-year-old has finished inside the points at every Japanese Grand Prix since 2014.

"The only thing I want to do is to perform and to try and meet my goals," said Bottas. "I definitely haven’t been achieving those lately, so that’s why the feeling wasn’t so positive after the race. So, for sure it’s tricky because now, you know, having such a good car and with potential for such good results, I just want to perform. So that’s why.

"I think the compromises we’ve been needing to do in some circuits to get it into the right window has been quite a challenge sometimes to drive around. I think Lewis (Hamilton) has been able to extract a little bit more sometimes with a more tricky setup. Some things with the driving style always makes a difference, and to understand those, you always kind of need that bad weekend to learn from it - otherwise you don’t know these differences."

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 3,453
  • Podiums 127
  • Grand Prix 235
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (28)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile
show sidebar