F1 Chinese GP: 0.001s gap to Vettel in China qualifying frustrates Bottas
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Valtte🍷ri Bottas was left frustrated after falling just 0.001 seconds sh🐬ort of a front-row berth for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix and matching his best qualifying result in Formula 1.
After seeing Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton charge to his sixth straight pole posiඣtion, Bot💯tas was left to settle for third on the grid for the second race in a row, 0.187 seconds off the pace.
The tighter gap was th𓃲at to second-placed Sebastian Vettel, whose lap was just 0.001 seconds faster than Bottas' - equivalent to just 5.91 centimetres - leaving the Finn frustrated.
"One-thousandth is not much," Bottas said. "A reaܫl shame he managed to get between us. That's a shame, but again, the race👍 is tomorrow.
"We are starting as a team first and thir𝓀d, it's a good place to start. The weather can be anything really tomorrow. Lewis was strong today, Ferrari was strong and we were always expecting a close fight today on-track.
"I think it will be the same case tomorrow, but yeah, really thankful to the team again, great job in a short amount of time in practice today to get the car setu🃏p well. It was enjoyable to drive. Let's see what tomorrow brings."
byBottas added that he was feeling more at ease heading into Sunday's rac🌱e in China than his Mercedes debut in Australia two weeks ago, ga🃏ining confidence with every lap he completes.
"Approaching this weekend compared to Melbourne, the first round of the 🌃year, it was different feeling," Bott꧑as said. "Having an F1 full race weekend with the team then the qualifying session then the race then the podium finish it was a nice start, so definitely feeling more and more comfortable.
"[I'm] still not satisfied, I think we mentioned thꦍat there is a big learning curve for me with everything. I feel better and better every single day with the team and every single lap with the car."
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