Bottas set for Melbourne gearbox change penalty after qualifying crash
Valtteri Bottas is set to drop a further five places down the Australian Grand Prix grid after Mercedes confirmed his qualifying crash has damaged his Formula 1 car's gearbox
The Finn made an error at Turn 1 on his first run in Q3, bouncing across the kerbs and losing control as he rejoined the track before swiping the barriers on the right hand side of the track.
The damage to the car was extensive and, although investigations by Mercedes after qualifying confirmed the chassis did not need replacing, his gearbox can no longer be used so a new one will need to be fitted.
That will mean Bottas moving down from his 10th place on the provisional grid to start 15th.
Speaking about his accident, Bottas explained the grass at Turn 1, which was damp after a morning downpour, had been a factor in the accident.
"I was carrying a lot of speed and I went wider than ideal, and definitely it was a bit damp where I was," he said.
"I got sudden wheelspin and I couldn't catch the rear any more or lift any more. It was my mistake.
"I just pushed too hard in that corner, trying to gain some time. That cost me Q3 and for us as a team a lot of extra work for tomorrow."
With a 27G impact recorded, Bottas was taken to the medical centre for a mandatory check but was given the all clear.
He said there should be no lingering effects from the incidents.
"It was quite a big hit and I'm glad everything's fine," he said. "There's no pain at the moment.
"In the moment it hurts a bit but I guess you earn that when you make a mistake like that.
"The car is not fine but hopefully it will be OK.
"Tomorrow, if we can get everything back together - obviously, [I'm] starting a bit far [back] to be really fighting for the win, but there's no point giving up on Saturday. Everything is still possible.
"We've seen we have a good car in qualifying as Lewis [Hamilton, who will start from pole] showed but we have a very good car for the race and I think anything's possible.
"Plenty of things can happen in the race. I had a race last season when I was one lap down and still ended up second, so you never know."
Previous article
Ricciardo: Any top driver could get pole with Mercedes advantage
Next article
Verstappen suggests qualifying mistake cost him front row start spot
How Ferrari has brought the best from F1’s smooth operator
As a young boy, Carlos Sainz was schooled by his father in the special folklore surrounding Ferrari in Formula 1. Now an established grand prix ace – and a Ferrari driver to boot – Sainz opens up to BEN ANDERSON about driving for the team of his childhood hero, and of his own boyhood dreams
How Hungarian GP thriller sounded alarm bell for F1 2022 cars
OPINION: The 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix may not have been a thrill-a-minute overtaking fest, but it's a race that will live long in the memory as one of the best of the current era of Formula 1. And as F1 moves to regulations in 2022 aimed at boosting overtaking, Hungary showed the balance it must strike with its new machinery as not to deny similarly tense spectacles
Was Hamilton's Hungary solo start a good or bad look for F1?
OPINION: Different perspectives had Lewis Hamilton’s solo second standing start in Formula 1’s 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix as fabulous or farcical. But did it make the championship appear too silly for the sake of a moment of high-charged sporting drama?
Why unseen Hungary heroics could be the making of F1's most overlooked driver
The chaotic start to the Hungarian GP set the scene for F1's less heralded drivers to make a name for themselves. Esteban Ocon did just that to win in fine style, but further down the order one driver was making his first visit to the points and - while the circumstances were fortunate - took full advantage of the chance presented to him
Hungarian Grand Prix Driver Ratings
This was race that showcased the best and worst of Formula 1, producing a first time winner and a memorable comeback to a podium finish. Avoiding trouble at the start and astute strategy calls were key to success, but where some drivers took full advantage, others made key errors that cost them dearly
The “heart-breaking” call that led to Ocon’s Hungarian GP triumph
Set to restart the red-flagged Hungarian Grand Prix in second, Esteban Ocon had some doubts when he peeled into the pits to swap his intermediate tyres for slicks. But this "heart-breaking" call was vindicated in spectacular fashion as the Alpine driver staved off race-long pressure from Sebastian Vettel for a memorable maiden Formula 1 victory
The F1 champion who became an Indy king in his second career
Emerson Fittipaldi’s decision to go racing with his brother led to him falling out of F1, but he bloomed again on the IndyCar scene. NIGEL ROEBUCK considers a career of two halves
Why Mercedes is pleased to be in the Hungary hunt at a 'Red Bull track'
Mercedes ended Friday practice at the Hungaroring with a clear gap to Red Bull thanks to Valtteri Bottas’s pace in topping FP2. But there are other reasons why the Black Arrows squad feels satisfied with its progress so far at a track many Formula 1 observers reckon favours Red Bull overall
