Bottas says misfortune 'feels like a bit of a bad joke'

It there was a drivers' standings based on bad luck, Valtteri Bottas would be leading by a country mile such has been the Mercedes driver's bad fortune this season.

In Baku, the Finn looked like he was heading to a rewarding victory when a puncture robbed him of what should have rightfully been his fourth career win in F1.

A strong contender at Paul Ricard ten days, Bottas' potential chances of success vanished on the opening when he was hit by a clumsy Sebastian Vettel.

Wolff: 'The most painful day in my years at Mercedes'

Pole position at the Red Bull Ring on Saturday was perceived as a good omen, perhaps the promise of a turnaround. Alas, his hardship persisted when a hydraulics issue on his usually ultra-reliable W09 spelt another disaster and increased his deficit in the title fight to an almost impossible level to pull back from.

"The luck I'm having this year feels like a bit of a bad joke at the moment,'' Bottas said.

"My start was not ideal. I had quite a bit of wheelspin and there was less grip than we expected, so I dropped a few places.

"Going into Turn 3, I could recover two places and was back in second place. After that the car felt strong, we were running well, but then I suddenly experienced a loss of hydraulic pressure," he added.

"There was nothing I could have done to prevent the DNF. I guess it was just not meant to be today - but one day it will be."

Count on it Valtteri…

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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.