Valtteri Bottas believes qualifying third for the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix could prove to be a𒐪dvantageous given the long run down to Turn 2 on the opening lap in Sochi.

Bottas was unable to mount a challenge for pole position havin🥃g led teammate Lewis Hamilton in Q1 and Q2.

The Finn will start the race from third as he was well beaten by Hamilton to pole, while Max Verstappen🐼 put in a mammoth lap at the end of the session to go second.

Bottas claimed his maiden F1 win at the Sochi Autodrom back in 2017 fr🔯om t♛hird on the grid and he’s hopeful he can replicate the start he made three years ago where he went from third to first on the opening lap.

“I remember I🧸 started once in third here and I know what happened then so, for sure, I’ll try to do the same,” Bottas said. “I really think I have the advantage in the first stint with the medium, so there’s still all to play for.”

Bottas was unsure why the gap ⛎to Hamilton was so large in qua🍰lifying having been unable to make gains as the track improved.

“Q3 was a tricky one,” Bottas added. “In the first run I didn’t feel my tyres were ready, so at the end of the out lap I had a big snap, so I l🔯ost already a couple of tenths on the run down into Turn 2 and when I got there I had a massive snap oversteer, so the tyres only came in, really, towards the end of the laꦫp.

“So, I wa🌟s just waiting for the second run and then there were no mistakes as such, in Turn 2 I had a tiny lock up and went a bit wide, but, to be honest, I don’t really get why I couldn’t match Lewis’ times in Q3. 

“It just didn’t feel I wasn’t gaining much grip from the previ😼ous sessions. I thꦺink even in Q2 it felt better, so a few question marks for me about what really happen.  Or maybe I was just playing games and wanted to start third.”