Hamilton free pass in Bahrain GP left Bottas disappointed

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas has admitted that it was hard to accept being asked to move aside for team mate Lewis Hamilton during Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix and was disappointed by the same.

Bottas, who started from pole and led the early stages of the race, let Hamilton by for strategic reasons around mid-distance, and then again 10 laps from home when it became clear that the Briton was the team's best chance of victorious Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.

Despite being on pole for the first time in his F1 career, Bottas's Sunday did not begin well.

A generator problem on the grid meant the team were unable to bleed his tyres properly and he started the race with higher pressures than he would have liked.

"You know, honestly, as a racing driver it is the worst thing you want to hear," Sport24 quoted Bottas as saying.

"But that's how it is and although I didn't like it for my personal race, I am a team player and I understand," he added.

The 27-year-old Finn, however, admitted he did it because there was potential that Hamilton could challenge Vettel.

"In the end, it didn't happen, but the team tried which I completely understand. Personally, it is tough for me, but that's life. I just didn't have enough pace today and we need to find the reasons for that," he said.