The Swiss outfit stunned the paddock when each vehicles had been persistently quick all through qualifying, with Zhou Guanyu topping Q1 and ultimately incomes fifth place.
Bottas was as excessive as fourth in Q2 after which took seventh in Q3, cut up from his team-mate by the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
Alfa has been bringing new elements to the C43 frequently lately, with a serious ground package deal launched on the final race on the British Grand Prix.
Bottas says he anticipated the automotive to be extra aggressive than it was at Silverstone, the place neither driver made it out of the primary qualifying section, however he admitted that he was stunned by the leap up the grid.
“Primarily based on the sensation for the automotive I did say coming to the weekend that it ought to really feel a bit higher than Silverstone,” mentioned the Finn. “But it surely’s significantly better. I did not count on that, however we’ll take it.
“I feel we have to be taught one thing in regards to the new package deal and the set-up, and the trip heights aren’t optimised, however we’re positively stunned how fast we had been right now, and truly in all completely different elements gave the impression to be the case.
“I feel this observe actually brings out the great traits. Additionally usually within the straight line we appear to be a bit draggy, and here is there’s just one straight. So much less lap time misplaced there, and it’s faster on the twisty elements.
Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C43
Photograph by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
“The staff had a clear weekend, proper arrange path, so every thing has gone in the appropriate path. After which when it is about tenths to be out or in Q3, these issues matter. So it was actually stable day.”
Bottas began to understand that there was potential within the package deal in Hungary following Saturday’s FP3 session.
“After third observe after we did the lap instances, I ended up tenth,” he famous. “With nonetheless an engine mode that wasn’t quali mode. I knew that, okay, we’re onto one thing right here.
“So I truly informed Andreas [Seidl] that it’ll be prime seven right now, simply earlier than quali. So a reasonably good prediction. I am unhappy I am not allowed to do betting, as a result of I might have made some good cash!”
Bottas conceded that small margins could make the distinction: “For those who simply take a look at the outcomes not the lap instances it appears to be like like huge swings.
“However if you happen to take a look at the lap instances, it is truly not, so it’s actually about who will get issues proper on the weekend, what can change many, many positions.
“It is good to see, I feel that is how F1 must be. So right now, we’re completely satisfied, another groups aren’t.”
Further reporting by Matt Kew