Bottas was the manꩵ beat in practice ahead of qualifying, topping FP2 and FP3 at the Los🤡ail International Circuit.

The Finn couldn’t continue his fine form into Q3, only managing third on the gri🐭d, over 0.6s shy of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Reflecting 🐼on qualifying in Qatar, Bottas revealed that he struggled to get h🥀is tyres up to temperature for the opening sequence of corners.

“Yes, it’s been a good wꩲeekend so far,” he said. “Until the qualifyin𝐆g started, for me, I felt really strong and confident I was feeling very comfortable in the car.

“I don’t know what happened overℱnight, for sure the wind shifted from yesterday and in FP3 I was still fastest, but I had to push a lot, so I knew I couldn’t find much more. In qualifying I struggled quite a bit, especially in Turn 1𒊎, I was struggling to get the tyres ready, unlike yesterday evening.

“I need to have a look, but I obviously tried my best but I’m a little bit confused with what hap🌠pened with the car overnight.”

The good news for Bottas꧑ is that he’s set to s♔tart the race from the clean side of the grid, while Verstappen is on the dirty side of the track.

Due to there being no support races this weekend, the difference between the left and right-hand side of the grid is likely to be greater than usual, giving B♔ottas a great chance of moving up to second on the opening lap.

“Yes, I don’t have much, personally, to lo👍se and I hope the fact we’re both starting on the clean side, Lewis an🐭d I, will help and we’ll go from there,” Bottas added.

“We have got two cars aga𒊎inst Max, ♏so I’m sure we can do something.”