Qatar GP was 'torture' for drivers - Bottas

Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas has branded the Qatar Grand Prix "torture" following several concerns from drivers over the conditions during the race.

The ambient temperatures reached up to 33°c during the night race but the sheer humidity and mandated 18-lap stints - with minimal tyre management - led to a tough afternoon for drivers.

It was the first time in the F1 history that stint lengths had been prescribed specifically across all compounds, owing to safety concerns raised by Pirelli earlier in the weekend.

Although drivers felt there was no need to impose any maximum stint length, a decision was made on the morning of the race. This meant they were effectively completing qualifying laps throughout the 57-lap Grand Prix.

Bottas was one of those who benefited from the decision, having saved enough tyres to run a comfortable three-stop strategy.

He managed to stay inside the top ten and bring home points in eighth, alongside teammate Zhou Guanyu, who finished ninth owing to a late time penalty for Red Bull's Sergio Perez.

Bottas: I'm not surprised drivers passed out

When asked about the conditions, Bottas told media, including RacingNews365: "I would say it was harder than Singapore, just the temperature in the cockpit was almost too much.

"It's getting to the limit that somebody's going have heat stroke, the feeling is like torture."

Williams' Logan Sargeant was the only driver to retire due to "intense dehydration" while Esteban Ocon revealed he vomited 16 laps into the race.

When told about the other drivers, Bottas replied: "I'm not surprised, any hotter than this it will not be safe."