Bottas still not happy with Mercedes: "I think I've made my point"

Valtteri Bottas was clearly not happy with his team's chosen strategy at the French Grand Prix. When he saw Sergio Perez appear in his mirrors in the closing stages of the race, he was audibly frustrated as he pointed out on the on-board radio that Mercedes should have done a two-stop.

The Finn yelled over the radio that he wasn't being listened to, and that he had suggested going for a two-stop-shop before the race. Mercedes didn't go along with that though, losing places to both Perez and Max Verstappen. During the press conference for the Styrian Grand Prix he said he is still dissatisfied with his team's choice, but now understands it better.

Bottas still dissatisfied, but understanding

"I understand some more other things now, but the fact remains that the situation of my tyres at that time was not ideal," Bottas told Formula1.co.uk. "The important thing is that if someone is dissatisfied, it is talked about honestly."

The situation where Bottas suggests an idea which is then ignored by his team has occurred more often than not. However, the Finnish driver doesn't think he needs to get tougher with the team. "I think I made my point pretty clear. It was too late, maybe I should have done it earlier. Within the team I am always direct, nobody knows how I work behind closed doors," continued the Mercedes driver.

Bottas denies that there is any bad understanding between him and Mercedes, saying that they actually have a good relationship. "What has brought us this far as a team is by being honest and direct," said the nine-time Grand Prix winner.