Bottas almost excited to win
May 2017
New Mercedes pilot Valtteri Bottas almost smiled after winning his first Grand Prix and the 81st attempt. The Finnish driver joined the reigning champions at the start of the year, replacing Nico Rosberg, who quit after admitting his was too scared to come back and defend his title.
After some difficulties in the first three races, Bottas settled into the lead at the start of the Russian Grand Prix and led pretty much the whole race while his team mate struggled to work his right foot properly and came home a distant third.
His only real drama came towards the end of the race when Vettel, on fresher tyres, caught him and almost got past. However, some clever defensive driving saw him hold off the four time champion and almost unleashed the angry sweary German in the process.
Bottas was almost happy after the race and may have smiled briefly on the podium. Apparently one journalist caught a snap of him grin in parc ferme and is selling the photo on Ebay for $1,000.
