Bottas outlines Alfa Romeo target after impressive start

Valtteri Bottas believes Alfa Romeo must target being the "best of the rest" in F1's midfield after a promising start to the new season.

The Finn switched from constructors' champions Mercedes to Alfa Romeo over the winter and hit the ground running with a sixth-place finish in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Bottas then threatened to follow up on that result in Saudi Arabia before retiring from the race late on.

But with two Q3 appearances under his belt, asked whether 'best of the rest' was an achievable goal for the rest of the year, Bottas replied: "That needs to be the target now.

"We were more or less in the same place as in Bahrain even though I thought Saudi Arabia would be more difficult.

“Aiming to be best of the rest is good motivation and a good target so hopefully, if we can eventually fight for fifth position in the race, that would be a good step for us.”

Bottas hopes start issues fixed for Australia

Bottas fell backwards at the start in Bahrain before reclaiming positions throughout the event due to a poor start.

Addressing his getaway at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Bottas explained: “It was okay. Maybe not the best start on the grid but it was an average start.

"There was still a tiny bit of oscillation in the start but nothing dramatic so I think we are starting to understand the issue.

“Hopefully by the time Australia comes around, we will have good starts.”

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