Wolff: Bottas performance will boost both Mercedes drivers

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Valtteri Bottas pole position in Bahrain was exactly what the doctor ordered, or rather what Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was expecting.

The Finn left China last Sunday fairly annoyed with himself after the blunder which saw him spin out of contention during a safety car period.

Bottas knew that there would not be much margin for error in Bahrain and that a tangible result was required. His performance was greeted by a beaming Toto Wolff.

"The first ever pole position for any driver in Formula 1 is a huge moment," Wolff said.

"He (Bottas) has kept his calm, and that is important because he has the best team mate you can probably have in F1.

"It's a perfect situation for the team because they will be pushing each other, with all the respect they have for each other as racing drivers."

Bottas thrilled with maiden pole in F1

Bottas' ability to not only bounce back but to beat his outstanding team mate is a clear testimony to the Finn's character, Wolff insisted.

"Generally, he is not somebody that is easily shaken. When he has bad days, and one of these days happened in Shanghai, he recovers pretty quickly.

"He said to me 'Monday morning was not good, Monday afternoon was better!'.

"I think he continues to improve all the time and that's an important skill. Equally, Lewis has that skill as well, so it's really good for us."

GALLERY: All the pictures from Saturday in Bahrain

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.