Valtteri Bottas drove a superb race at the Sepang International Circuit to make a one-stop strategy work to his advantage and claim a fifth place finish having started outside the top ten.
The Williams Martini Racing driver started the race on the Medium Pirelli tyre and made them work until lap twenty-eight, before finishing the race on the Hard compound, and was able to stave off a possible attack in the closing laps from the Sahara Force India of Sergio Perez.
Bottas was disappointed not to see both Williams’ inside the top ten as team-mate Felipe Massa ended down in thirteenth after early problems, but is looking to take his own positive result into next weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
“I think it was a very good day for us,” said Bottas. “We definitely got everything there was to get from today. The start was good, we were able to make our planned strategy work, which was crucial today to be in front of Force India.
“We scored some good points. It’s a shame that we lost points with Felipe’s technical issues, but from my side I’m happy with the race. Let’s try and repeat this in Japan.”
