4
Valtteri Bottas is set to take a 5-place grid penalty for the Australian Grand Prix following his shunt in qualifying. The Finn was starting his first timed lap in Q3 when the kerb at Turn 1 bounced him wide, causing him to dip a wheel onto the grass.
The grass was saturated due to the rain that fell during the morning at Albert Park. Bottas lost control of his W09 and spun into the barrier, wrecking the rear of his car. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirmed that the chassis was undamaged, but a new gearbox is required, which will result in a 5-place grid penalty.
Speaking about his crash, Bottas said: "I used a bit more of the track on the exit of Turn 1. I went a bit too wide and just a bit surprised [with what happened next]. I think the track was still a little damp from the rain we had previously. I lost the rear of the car and tried to correct it but it all happened so quick and there was nothing I could do."
But the three-time Grand Prix winner is not losing hope on taking a positive result from Sunday's race: "We approach tomorrow with a fighting spirit. Points are given on Sundays, not Saturdays, so we're going to give it our all and get as high [up the leaderboard] as much as we can."
Fergal Walsh
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
133,759 comments on Sauber
2 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Valtteri Bottas
601,514 comments on Mercedes 56 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Mercedes
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
Expected to be honest