Valtteri Bottas pointed to his new mentality for what he called his “best race ever” at the Australian Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver got ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton into Turn 1 and was untroubled as he led almost every lap bar a handful during the pit-stop phase.
It certainly put the demons of 2018 behind him, having gone the entire year without a victory, with Bottas admitting his surprise at what he’d just achieved.
“I don’t know what just happened,” he told Martin Brundle in parc ferme.
“The start was really good, definitely my best race ever, I just felt so good and everything was under control and the car was very good, I just need to enjoy today.”
The Finn even had time to concentrate on the fastest lap in the closing stages, securing the additional point to his 25 for the win.
“The fastest lap is a new rule as I had strong pace, I had to go for that. I’m just so happy and can’t wait for the next race,” he added.
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Before the start of the year, Bottas had claimed he would be more selfish in his approach for this season.
And though he told Mark Webber on the podium he had “porridge” for breakfast, he thinks that change has helped him significantly.
“It is not just the breakfast, it is all the past years, the work in the winter, the work I’ve done inside here [his head],” Bottas explained.
“I truly enjoyed it and it would not be possible without the amazing car. In the beginning it was about managing the race and I saw after five, six seven laps I was starting to build the lead. I knew I could do it, I have done it before.
“When you are really on it it feels kind of easy.”
Also delighted to see Bottas back to his best was Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
“Valtteri deserved to win the race and controlled it,” the Austrian said. “I’m very impressed. He was written off at the end of last season and now he has had the most dominant race.”
