Valtteri Bottas says he fully accepts and understands Mercedes’ request during the Singapore Grand Prix that prevented him from potentially undercutting Lewis Hamilton.
During a tyre-limited race that was dictated by pit stop strategy Hamilton was instructed to extend his first stint in an ultimately fruitless attempt at using the overcut on Charles Leclerc.
Bottas, who was fifth in the train early on, stopped prior to Hamilton but was informed to maintain a relatively slow pace such that he – and Alexander Albon – did not jump the points leader.
Hamilton emerged from his pit stop, a few laps later than Bottas’ service, in fourth place – having initially been second – just a few car lengths in front of the sister Mercedes.
Their positions of fourth and fifth were maintained through to the chequered flag.
“I already knew it at that point, because there are certain rules we follow,” said Bottas.
“Always, before the pit stops, the one that qualified better, the one that who is ahead, always gets the priority and he can then choose to either go short or go long, and he chose to go long.
“Then, me, behind and that’s how it goes. Obviously, if I had gone flat out I would have undercut him and Albon would have done it too. So, I completely see the point, from the team’s perspective.
“And I know it will be the same if it’s vice-versa and I’ll make sure it will be the same if it’s vice-versa.
“I trust it will be, but obviously from the outside, it looks pretty bad and from my side, being in that situation, it’s completely against my instincts, to back off not to overtake your team-mate.
“It doesn’t make any sense, but that kind of rule has been there for I don’t know how long, at least since I joined the team. But it’s both ways, it’s not only for Lewis, so it’s OK.”
Bottas now trails Hamilton in the championship by 65 points ahead of the Russian Grand Prix, the event at which he claimed his maiden victory in 2017.
