Jul.10 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas should have been waved through to boost Williams’ victory hopes in the British grand prix.
That is the view of retired two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen.
“Valtteri had clearly better pace than Felipe (Massa),” said the Finn, referring to the controversial opening stages of the recent Silverstone race.
Brazilian Massa has hit back at those who think the team should have ordered him to give up the place, arguing that if Bottas was “so much faster, he would have passed me”.
But Hakkinen insists: “When you’re driving the same car with the same power, overtaking is so difficult.
“It would have been logical if the team had reacted immediately to Valtteri’s pace — and I know I am not alone in this opinion.”
However, Hakkinen’s view is also not surprising given that he is involved in Bottas’ management.
And as Bottas pushes for the Ferrari seat, one strong argument against the move is that the 25-year-old has been pushed hard in 2015 by Massa — a driver dropped by the famous Italian team two years ago.
Hakkinen responded: “It’s true that you cannot lose against your teammate.
“However, you also have to consider the level at which Felipe drives. He is a very experienced driver. He spent eight seasons at Ferrari, and in 2008 only missed becoming world champion by a few seconds.
“He (Massa) is still very fast,” he added.
And awkwardly for Hakkinen, the man who would need to be ousted at Ferrari now to make room for Bottas is yet another Finn — Kimi Raikkonen.
Hakkinen said in his latest interview for the sponsor Hermes that there is currently “a lot of politics” involved in Raikkonen’s future at Ferrari.
And “What happened at Silverstone definitely doesn’t make the situation any easier for him,” he added.
He is referring to the Finn’s obvious error in switching fatally early from dry to rain tyres.
But Hakkinen said tyre decisions in changeable conditions like that are actually “a lottery”.
“No one can decide purely with reason what is the right moment to change,” said the 1998 and 1999 world champion. “Lewis (Hamilton) of course was fantastically successful, and with Kimi it was exactly the opposite.”