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Dismal qualifying leaves Bottas banking on incidents on Sunday

Valtteri Bottas was left "puzzled" after Saturday's qualifying in Melbourne, where the Alfa Romeo driver inexplicably concluded his session at the bottom of the time sheets.

Bottas will start his Australian Grand Prix on the final row of Sunday's grid just ahead of Red Bull's Sergio Perez, who failed to achieve a timed lap in Q1, and two spots behind his Alfa teammate Zhou Guanyu.

The ten-time Grand Prix winner was left with more questions than answers at the end of the day.

"I’m a bit puzzled, really, it didn’t feel like there were any major issues, so I have no answer," Bottas admitted.

"Tomorrow, I hope there’s going to be some action, some Safety Cars, but let’s see.

2023 Australian Grand Prix - Qualifying results

"There was a bit too much understeer in the car but it didn’t feel that should cost us half a second from where we think we should be, so I’m not really sure, it’s a bit odd.

"For sure on the lap I felt the tyres had hit the sweet spot. I had a bit of traffic but that just cost me a couple of tenths, not half a second, so I’m not entirely sure.

"I think that even without traffic it would have been quite difficult to get through to Q2, which is not what we targeted and it’s not where we thought we’d be, so we need to have a look.

"So, there are a few question marks in there."

It was Bottas' first Q1 misstep since the start of the season and it was one that occurred despite Alfa implementing a few updates on its C43, including a revised front wing.

Bottas said he had no issues with the new elements but suggested digging deeper into the wing's drag level.

"We can see that everything on the wing is working as it should, so I’m not convinced that’s the issue, because it did feel like an improvement and the numbers show it," he said.

"Compared to the competition we still seem a bit slow on the straights and we’re not bad in the corners. Maybe that’s just the wing level we’re running."

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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.