Valtteri Bottas admits that Alfa Romeo's two-stop strategy in the Spanish Grand Prix proved to be the wrong choice, but insists the plan was worth the risk.
From P7 on the grid, Bottas quickly progressed into the top-five in the opening stages of the race and even looked like a potential podium contender as the afternoon unfolded.
The Finn eventually ran as high as third, his team banking on a bold two-stop strategy to carry him forward. But his lengthy final 32-lap stint on the medium tyre ultimately hampered his pace and left him sixth at the checkered flag.
"When you are in those positions and things are going smoothly, and you see things happening to other cars, you are thinking, 'Okay, it could be my day,'" Bottas said after the race.
"But I think, strategy-wise, we took a bit of a risk today. We left the last stint to be very long, but in the end it was too long. The tyres died towards the end.
"We tried. We had the chance to choose, 'Are we going to be the best of the rest, or are we going to try something more?'
"So we tried something different and it didn't work out, but the risk was pretty minimal. There was not that much threat from behind."
Bottas' efforts nevertheless validated once again the good form displayed by Alfa's C42 since the start of the season, a strength which the Swiss outfit upheld in Spain thanks to its latest upgrade package.
And the former Mercedes driver reckons there could be another step up in performance this week in Monaco's high downforce environment.
"We made really good progress this weekend and that’s thanks to the upgrades we brought here," commented Bottas.
"Also, this type of track doesn’t play to our strengths, so I think we could be better next week [in Monaco].
"It’s a very different circuit to this one and I’ll be already in the simulator [on Monday], but I really believe it will suit our car strengths pretty well, so I’ve got big hopes for the next weekend.
"I’m thinking it should be one of the best tracks in the calendar for our car. For sure the upgrades we brought for this weekend will also help us there, and with a nice big rear wing, we should be good in Monaco."
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