Sebastian Vettel says he had to “surprise” Valtteri Bottas in their fight for the lead, after prevailing en route to victory at Formula 1’s British Grand Prix.
Vettel snatched the advantage from Lewis Hamilton at the start of the race and kept a buffer over Bottas until the Safety Car was deployed following a crash for Marcus Ericsson.
Vettel opted to pit for Soft tyres while Bottas stayed out on Mediums to pick up the lead of the race.
Bottas’ prospects were aided by a further neutralisation period which reduced the final green-flag stint to a 10-lap shootout, in the early stages of which he preserved the lead.
But Vettel made a late move into Brooklands with six laps remaining to prise away top spot, leaving Bottas unable to strike back.
“It was quite intense,” said Vettel. “Obviously I had the advantage on the tyres but he had the clean air so in the high-speed stuff I was able to follow, but it was difficult the closer I got.
“I saw sort of sniffed my chance already and the first laps after the restart out of Turn 4 and then on the Wellington Straight down to Turn 6.
“The final move, obviously I was able to surprise him so I think he thought that I won’t dare [go on] the inside and the braking zone was coming quite fast.
“I thought ‘OK, I have to go for it’, because I was obviously also struggling… the longer I spent behind him, struggling with my tyres as they got hotter, and losing that advantage that I had a little bit.
“I felt great when I was side by side and wasn’t sure if I would make the corner but I did, so it was great.
“Once I was ahead, obviously I could use that advantage to pull out a gap and control the race from there.
“But it was crucial, it wasn’t easy, they seemed to be very strong on the straights, the mid part of the straights but yeah, obviously with DRS and a tow, I was a bit stronger at the end of the straights so it worked.”
Bottas accepted that he was not expecting Vettel’s move on that lap but reckoned the worsening state of his tyres meant losing the lead was ultimately inevitable.
“I didn't quite expect it, based on the laps before, I was already defending,” he said.
“I didn't think there would be a chance to get it. There was nothing I could do any more. It was just a matter of time.
“Obviously disappointing at that point, but seeing lap after lap what happened to me and how the grip was, there was nothing I could do.”
