Valtteri Bottas has been urged to take more risks after two difficult races for his championship chances.
As Mercedes’ domination was pegged back in Monaco and Canada, the Finn was the one to lose out finished third and fourth while teammate Lewis Hamilton won both races.
It means the gap between the pair now sits at 29 points in the Drivers’ standings and former Ferrari driver Mika Salo fears the more aggressive Bottas seen earlier in the year has gone.
“He did not get past the slower cars and his pace was never good,” he was quoted by GPFans as telling Finnish media reflecting on his race in Canada.
“It even seemed like he was saving the tyres. He drove so easily.
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“That’s now two pretty bad losses to Hamilton in a row, in Monaco and Canada and the points difference is going up,” Salo noted.
“Yes, I think he needs to start driving a bit more at the edge.”
Upcoming races in Paul Ricard and Spielberg are expected to see a return to Mercedes domination, so a victory in one or both is essential for Bottas to keep Hamilton in reach.