F1 2020: Valtteri Bottas gives driver’s the finger in Styrian Grand Prix – NEWS.com.au

Formula 1 star Valtteri Bottas was spotted flipping the bird to rival drivers as he helped Mercedes to a one-two finish at the Styrian Grand Prix. Cameras captured the moment the Mercedes driver lost his cool late in the race on Sunday night (AEST) as he tried to catch up to teammate and race-winner Lewis Hamilton.
Bottas lapped a whopping nine drivers during the race with just six drivers able to keep on the same lap as the red-hot Mercedes duo.
Championship rivals Ferrari suffered the humiliation of having Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc ending their races after only a handful of laps following contact between the two teammates.
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It was all looking like a perfect day for Bottas — until he had to pass through backmarkers at the bottom end of the field while trying to keep pressure on Hamilton.
Bottas was stuck behind Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly and Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi for two laps as the pair tussled for position at the back of the grid.
When he finally got through, Bottas let them know about his frustrations, flipping them the rude hand signal as his Mercedes cruised past.
He went on to finish more than 13 seconds behind Hamilton, but still enjoys a six-point lead over his teammate in the championship standings.
He was far from the only driver unhappy about the behaviour of rivals during the race with Aussie Daniel Ricciardo also venting his frustration after a “desperate” overtake by Lance Stroll on the penultimate lap of the race saw him drop to eighth place.
Meanwhile, Bottas Mercedes are expected to this week confirm Bottas has signed a new deal to remain as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate.
The Sun reports the Finn is understood to have agreed a one-year extension to his current deal to take him up to the end of the 2021 season.
It is understood that Mercedes CEO Ola Kallenius has given his blessing for the team to retain its current pairing, despite the availability of Sebastian Vettel.
Vettel will leave Ferrari at the end of this season and had been tipped as an outsider to partner Hamilton in 2021, as he is friends with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

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