Spielberg bei Knittelfeld (Austria) (AFP)

Finland's Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) believes he "dodged many balls" to win the first Grand Prix of the Formula 1 season on Sunday in Austria, behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Q: You led each of the 71 laps but it was not an easy victory ...

A: "Winning a Formula 1 Grand Prix is ​​never easy. In the first stint, Lewis (Hamilton) lost a bit of time by overtaking the Red Bulls, so I had a good margin. wasn’t that difficult, because I had a good gap. So I could really control. I tried to take care of the tires and the car. In the second stint, there was never a lot of pressure because I was in front and I could make sure we could hold out until the end. But there were a lot of variables in this race. We had problems with some sensors damaged by the passages on the vibrators, so I had to avoid them. It cost me a lot of time. And when you are in the lead and there is safety car after safety car ... At the last, I said to myself : + come on ... +, because you just want things to go smoothly. I managed to dodge many bullets today and win the ictory. "

Q: Have the spectators missed?

A: "During the race, I don't really see them. I'm so focused on it. So it didn't really make a difference. But I have to say that what I really like in normal + normal F1 , it’s before the race, when we do the driver parade, that we see the support of everyone, the spectators, the fans, the flags of the different countries. It really creates a good atmosphere. After the race too, if you make a good result like today, it's nice to share it in this atmosphere which we certainly miss a little now, and to party with the spectators. But I know there are a lot loyal fans who look at me at home and the people who are most important to me, like my family, who look at me, support me and live the present moment with me. That's how it is. It is better to run and not I’m sure we’re still making a lot of people happy to watch the race. (...) I must say that the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the FOM (the promoter of the championship, note) and F1 have done a very good job by putting everything in place. We are well protected, it is well organized, fairly clear. We all think the risk of someone getting sick is minimal. "

Q: We saw on social networks that you now eat pancakes on Sunday morning rather than porridge, your secret weapon last year. Does it seem to work all the same?

A: "Porridge is hidden in pancakes! I always use this power but in a different way. My girlfriend always uses it on Sundays. We use oats, so it's a kind of porridge. In addition, I ate some porridge before the race. It's the best. Full of power. "

Words gathered at a press conference.

© 2020 AFP