Bottas inherited second place to complete a shock Mercedes one-two in Bahrain, where Ferrari had dominated before its race imploded with a spin for Sebastian Vettel and an engine cylinder problem for Charles Leclerc.

However, Bottas admitted he struggled for pace after slipping back from a superb first lap that launched him from fourth to second, as he immediately dropped back behind Leclerc and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.

“I think the wind caught me up a bit, I braked a bit too late into Turn 1, trying to keep my position, and I lost two places,” Bottas said.

“Ferrari, ultimately, was very, very strong again. During the times with the wind I ended up doing some mistakes, like I think some other drivers did as well.

“It was extremely difficult to keep the rhythm.

“I managed t

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