Bottas keen to erase memory of Sochi clash with Raikkonen

Valtteri Bottas hopes this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix will have a more favourable outcome than last year’s edition when the Williams ace clashed with Kimi Raikkonen on the final lap.

Looking to cap one of his better race weekends in 2015 with a strong result in Sochi, Bottas had managed to get past the fading Force India of Sergio Perez in the closing stages and was speeding towards a podium finish.

The Finn still had to hold off Raikkonen’s charging Ferrari but looked set to do so until his fellow countryman attempted a clumsy lunge in the last tour and ended up punting the Williams off track and out of the points-paying positons.

“Last year it didn’t end up the way I wanted, but normally I’m pretty quick and we are competitive there as a team,” Bottas said. “One challenge in Sochi is that the asphalt is quite smooth, so in qualifying it’s not easy to get the tyres to work quickly enough for the timed lap.

“That has been a challenge in previous years, but hopefully we have fixed it and I’m sure we’re going to have a good weekend in Russia.

“It is my neighbouring country, being Finnish. Sochi is a very technical track and I find it really interesting to drive. I’ve always had pretty good results there.”

Raikkonen received a post-race time penalty for the incident, which effectively handed the Constructors' championship to Mercedes. The two Finns would have another coming together a couple of grands prix later in Mexico, though this time it was Bottas who was trying to force his way past the Ferrari.

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