Nothing personal with Kimi - Bottas

Valterri Bottas clinched a hard-earned third spot on the podium for the second time this year in this afternoon's thrilling Mexican Grand Prix.

The Williams driver enjoyed a good launch off the grid to move up to fifth but then looked set for a busy afternoon when his team called him in for medium tyres after only nine laps.

As tyre stop rotations set in, the Finn slowly moved back up the order and was about to duel it out once again with countryman Kimi Raikkonen when the two men collided in Turn 5 on lap 22 for the second time in three races, with the Ferrari driver out on the spot with a broken rear suspension.

"It was quite an eventful race," Bottas acknowledged.

"First of all, as a team we did a great job and every single call was the right one. We stopped early as planned because changing to mediums early was the best thing to do for us. The second stop after the Safety Car came out was also the right call. I tried to take every opportunity there was, and third place was the result."

Reflecting on his run-in with Raikkonen, Bottas put it down to circumstance, with no preconceived idea of settling a score with his countryman for what had happened in Russia.

"It's really nothing personal, it's just unlucky that it was me and him again. To be honest it didn't have to end up like that, and regardless of who it would have been I would have done the same because I saw a real opportunity there."

"Normally in this type of situation there is space for two cars, especially if the one on the outside knows there is someone on the inside. I'm sure he knew I was there but there was just nowhere for me to go."

Asked if he felt compelled to talk to Raikkonen about the incident, which warranted no further actions from the stewards, Bottas reiterated his belief that it was all just down to bad luck.

"I don't feel the need to talk to him but if he wants to have a word with me I'm ready. But as I said before, it was more a matter of bad luck that it was he and I that got involved."

REPORT: Rosberg holds off Hamilton in Mexican GP as Vettel crashes

AS IT HAPPENED: Mexican Grand Prix

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