Villeneuve: Bottas ’embarrassing’ in Brazil

Jacques Villeneuve was as honest as ever when assessing Valtteri Bottas’ performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Bottas started the race on pole position in Interlagos but soon let the lead slip when Sebastian Vettel got the better getaway and headed the field after Turn 1.

Mercedes tried to respond with the under-cut in the pit lane, but Vettel held track position and Bottas was unable to apply any pressure on the Ferrari and had to settle for second.

And Villeneuve bemoaned Bottas’ performance, stating that team-mate Lewis Hamilton showed him up as he started from the pitlane.

“It was a great drive from Vettel, he won it at the start,” Villeneuve told Autosport.

“He was aggressive. When you see what the Mercedes was capable of, you just have to look at Lewis and Bottas wasn’t up to pace. It’s embarrassing for Bottas.

“Lewis finished around three seconds behind him when he started from the pits.

“It’s embarrassing. He simply is not on the pace of Hamilton. It’s been like that all year. That’s his level. Which is a good number two.”