Valtteri Bottas reflects on Q3 appearance in Abu Dhabi

In what could be his last Formula 1 qualifying session, Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas puts his Kick Sauber C44 into ninth in Q3, the only second time the Finnish driver made it to the last qualifying stage. After what was a big surprise to many, Valtteri Bottas reflected on his Q3 appearance.

Bottas is ready to end the season positively

Valtteri Bottas almost exited Q2 before the track improvement aided the 10-time Grand Prix winner to Q3. Reflecting on his lap, Bottas was jubilant, saying “a super clean call-in” was the key factor of the evening.

“There was a bit of a track improvement since. But it was a super clean call-in from us, and all my laps were just one of my best laps.”

“I’ve delivered, and that’s just kept going. That’s why I was happy. It’s finally nice to have a car that can actually do something.”

Driving a C44, which is tipped as the “slowest car on the grid” this season, Bottas remains optimistic about securing positive results for the season finale.

“But, like we spoke earlier, it’s a bit late in the year. At least we can hopefully finish in a positive way.”

The objective of the race

Bottas said the race’s objective is simple, “finish in the points.”

“Now the only goal is to finish in the points. And if the saying is true, you’re only as good as your last race. Hopefully, it’s a good one.”

When asked how important to finish in the points tomorrow, Bottas did not hold back from explaining the difficult season that Sauber has. After his teammate, Zhou Guanyu finished eighth in Qatar, Bottas remained the only active driver on the grid without points, just above the ousted Logan Sargeant.

“It does [matter]. I really haven’t had that many good races this year. Especially the physical results and physical points, there’s none. So, yeah, it would be nice to have a good one. We’re in a good place, and I think our car really is competitive to the cars around.”

“Today was really good, like I said, we’re in a good place, so that’s the only goal for tomorrow, to try and find a way somehow to score.”

Bottas credits having some cars out of position coming for the race and wishes Lady Luck would be on their side tomorrow.

“I think the fact is there’s some cars out of position, like Charles [Leclerc] and some other cars. Yeah, hopefully, the lady luck will be on our side.”

The mindset will slightly be different for Bottas as he is going to treat it like a final race and enjoy every moment of it.

“A little bit [different], yeah. For sure, I need to make sure that I really enjoy every moment of it. Of course, when you’re doing the thing, you’re focused, but before and after, I need to try and just be in the moment and enjoy it.”

“I think it’s the same thing, and as always, give it all I have.”

Bottas on the Russell–Verstappen fallout

Bottas has €5,000 coming to his credit card after treating all 20 drivers to a dinner on Thursday before the start of the Grand Prix weekend. It has been an annual tradition for all the drivers to have dinner together in Abu Dhabi.

“I think it was worth it [spending €5,000]. I think you won some nice toes from some people on the back straight, so I think it was definitely worth it. Yeah, I think it’s a nice tradition. Everyone is so busy, always doing their own thing, at least once a year, get together and have a laugh. I really enjoyed it.”

Naturally, the questions would not be far off the recent fallout between George Russell and Max Verstappen. While his peacemaking operations did not pay off, Bottas stated the two were not fighting, a positive sign.

“No, not in that meeting, but there was one picture last night, they were next to each other and there was no fighting, so that’s positive, so step by step.”