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Formula One (F1)
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Australian Grand Prix: Valtteri Bottas beats Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in Formula One curtain-raiser

  • Finland racer gets off to perfect start in Melbourne
  • The 29-year-old also claims bonus point for fastest lap

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First-placed Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland celebrates during the awarding ceremony of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 at the Albert Park in Melbourne. Photo: Xinhua
Associated Press

Valtteri Bottas has rediscovered his joy of driving and it has had immediate success as he led Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in a 1-2 finish at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

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Mercedes were hot favourites to win in Melbourne after dominating every practice session and qualifying on the first weekend of the season. It was just the finishing order – and the gap of more than 20 seconds – on Sunday that was a surprise.

He also picked up the bonus point for the fastest lap, which has been reintroduced to Formula One for the first time in six decades, to collect 26 championship points.

“It was definitely my best race ever. It felt so good,” Bottas said. “Truly enjoyed it. It wouldn’t be possible without my amazing car and the team we have.”

The quickest lap was a welcome bonus. “Definitely, it’s a new rule for this year. I had really strong pace, I wanted to go for that in the end.”

Bottas, whose best finish in six previous years in Australia was a third in 2017, was the faithful No 2 at Mercedes last season, when a combination of mechanical problems and team instructions meant he didn’t win a GP in a season when Hamilton dominated and collected his fifth world drivers’ championship.

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