Valtteri Bottas drew first blood in the 2019 championship fight with a win in Australia. The Finnish driver managed to snag the full 25 points and the bonus point for fastest lap. The fastest lap rule is a new addition for this season and will be in place for the rest of the season and beyond.
However, on an interesting note, Bottas was actually heard having a discussion on the team radio. The topic of debate was whether he should go for the fastest lap and that one extra point.
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Already, a lap earlier, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was also stating his intention to go for the fastest lap. If the Dutchman snagged fastest lap, it would mean that he is one point closer to Bottas. Luckily, Valtteri Bottas held firm and the 26 points were his for the taking.
With this win, has Bottas finally expelled the demons of his nightmarish 2018 campaign behind him?