Valtteri Bottas was the winner of the 2019 Australian Grand Prix and returns to Albert Park after a Formula 1’s three-year hiatus. PHOTO: Florent Gooden/DPPI

BRENDAN LINES APRIL 8, 2022

ALFA Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas remains the reigning king of Albert Park 1,120 days after his 2019 victory when Formula makes its return to Melbourne this weekend.

Back then, the former Mercedes driver made another defiant bid to convince the team he was the one-to-back for the 2019 world title over teammate Lewis Hamilton in the best possible way.

But in 2021, the Finn arrives with a new team and his career on a much different trajectory with a new new goals, he told grandprixnet.com.

“It’s a different mindset, but I’m used to it, I’ve completely had to reset my goals and expectations coming into this year,” Bottas said.

“Obviously, yes, I’d like to fight for the win, but as a team that’s where we’re at at the moment. 

“For me that’s the motivation is to see progress and improvements and enjoy the results and if we’re able to maximise everything on a weekend that’s motivation (in) itself.”

Out-qualifying his Mercedes-replacement George Russell in the season opener in Bahrain was a brilliant start, the team had never been close, yet alone been ahead of the all-conquering Mercedes in the turbo-hybrid era on outright pace.

Bottas said the team could still hold its head high despite a DNF in the second race at Jeddah, even though “the main issue we have is the reliability”.

Returning to his happy hunting ground at Albert Park this week, it’s a case of what was old is new again with changes to the track layout completed over the race’s three-year hiatus.

New cars, with aerodynamic changes for better overtaking and Albert Park the first track to feature four DRS zones, Bottas said he expects this weekend’s race to be won on tactics.

“I think it should be a good  race to watch. I’m pretty sure there’s more wheel-to-wheel action from the previous races here,” Bottas said. 

“For me the changes made to the track are really positive, it makes it a bit faster, a bit (more) flowing to the track and a bit more overtaking opportunities. 

“I think it’s going to make the race, tactically, quite interesting when fighting with other drivers, you will have to make sure you will have the upper hand when it comes to the overtake itself. 

Especially if it’s a battle toward the end of the race you’ll have to time things right, so it just makes it different in a way.”

Formula 1 returns when  FP1 begins at 1pm on Friday.