Lauda "surprised a lot" by Bottas victory

Bottas, who had previously taken 11 podiums in 80 starts, absorbed extreme pressure in the closing stages from Sebastian Vettel to win in only his fourth race with Mercedes at Sochi.

"It surprised me a lot because it's his first race victory under these difficult conditions with Vettel in a better combination behind him," said Mercedes non-executive chairman Lauda. "He did a fantastic job.

"I've never seen anyone like him, under this pressure, to win his first grand prix. He can't do a better grand prix."

Lauda said Bottas's explosive start, where he passed Kimi Raikkonen and then Vettel before Turn 2, "was the key" to victory.

He added that now that Bottas had won his first race, securing the next one should be an easier feat.

"To win the first grand prix in a racing driver's life is always the most difficult - I know from my own experience," he said.

"I remember [my first win] very well - [Emerson] Fittipaldi called me, who was the world champion in this day, and he said 'congratulations, the next ones will come easier', which is true.

"I told exactly the same thing to Valtteri just now - the next one will come easy. He has proven he can win."

Bottas signed for Mercedes on a one-year deal and though the Finn impressed with victory in his fourth race for the team, Lauda said it was too early to consider an extension.

"We are talking about this year," he said. "I want to win this year. I don't care who will win it. We have had no discussion about next year at all. Valtteri did the perfect job, all that we expected from him."

He added: "He is certainly a very good replacement for Nico [Rosberg]."

Additional reporting by Oleg Karpov and Roberto Chinchero