SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Valtteri Bottas stepped into the shoes of a champion when he joined Mercedes and in Russia on Sunday the Finn finally got that winning feeling. Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton has experienced it 54 times in his career and Nico Rosberg, the 2016 title-winner replaced by Bottas in January, won 23 grands prix before retiring. Hamilton congratulated the Finn after the finish, and Rosberg sent a congratulatory message on Twitter, before Bottas took a hefty swig of the podium champagne and breathed a sigh of satisfaction and relief. "It wasn’t the easiest race to win but it feels better when you actually need to earn it. And for my first one, it’s very special," said Bottas.

Source: The Star April 30, 2017 17:03 UTC