THE FIRST ONE IS THE HARDEST
V
altteri Bottas waited 81 races for his
first Formula 1 win to come along
but it will get easier for the Finn
after his success in Russia, according to
former world champion Niki Lauda.
“To win the first grand prix…is always
the most difficult one,” the retired triple
champion and non-executive chairman of
Bottas’s Mercedes team, told reporters.
“This I know out of my own
experience. So every one that comes next,
for him his life is easier. He has proven
that he can win.
“As soon as you win the first grand
prix, a big load comes off,” added the
Austrian, who was surprised Ferrari did
not win in Sochi given their race pace and
having both cars starting on the front row.
Instead, Bottas roared past both
Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen to
seize the lead into the first corner in a
move that decided the outcome.
The Finn has had to wait longer than
most to scale the top step of the podium
but the man he replaced in January, retired
2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, took
his first victory in his 111th grand prix start
after also starting out at Williams.
Fellow-Finn Mika Hakkinen, world
champion in 1998 and 1999 with McLaren,
took 96 races.
Only last week, reporters were asking
Bottas about having to accept so-called
‘team orders’ and help triple champion
team mate Lewis Hamilton in the title
battle against Vettel but it looks different
already.