Valtteri Bottas: I’m happy with fifth place at the start

Fifth place Valtteri Bottas in qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix was the best starting position for the Finn this season. The last time an Alfa Romeo driver qualified so highly in Germany was in 2019, when Kimi Raikkonen also set the fifth fastest time.

Valtteri’s teammate Guanyu Zhou did not come out of the first session and only showed the seventeenth result.

Valtteri Bottas (5th): “I am satisfied with my result. I was able to do a good lap and recover well from the problems I encountered on Friday. I didn’t have a great day on Friday, I didn’t put in many laps, but we got a good third session and found the right settings. Then everything depended on me – I had to find a rhythm and in the final I managed to do it.

In the race you have to keep an eye on the condition of the tires, taking into account the high temperature. It will be difficult, but this year our car is fast in the races, so we will fight.”

Guanyu Zhou (17th): “I’m disappointed with the qualifying results. I failed to get a fast lap right on the first try and then had to go to the weigh-ins. There was a risk that I wouldn’t make it in time for the second attempt – I had to attack right away, but I ran into traffic, so I had to abort the attempt.

I think reaching the second part of qualifying was quite possible – I missed only two tenths. It’s a shame, but now we have no choice but to focus on the race.

There is no doubt that the speed of the car will allow us to regain positions, but it will be quite difficult to compete for points. However, you never know how events will develop. Overtaking on this track is quite difficult, because the asphalt outside the track is slippery. I’m not in the best position to fight for points, but we never give up.”