Reuters
Formula One F1 – Monaco Grand Prix – Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco – May 22, 2021 Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas in action during qualifying REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Monaco Grand Prix – Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco – May 22, 2021 Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas in action during qualifying REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
Valtteri Bottas had his race cut short in disastrous fashion in Monaco. The wheel nut on his front right tire was jammed up when the Finn came into the pits. But it was not just Bottas who may have had sleepless nights following the incident. In fact, the Mercedes crew at the factory may have also suffered the same fate in getting the stubborn nut to come undone. Eventually, after 5 days, Mercedes finally confirmed that Valtteri’s front right tire had parted ways with his W12.
In a Twitter post shared by the Silver Arrows’ social media team, fans can see the final moments of the Mercedes crew’s feverish efforts to remove the wheel nut. At long last Bottas’ car is separated from the soft compound Pirelli tire that he began the race with.
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VB’s car is back home. Cheers for all the helpful suggestions but we’ll take it from here! 💪 pic.twitter.com/41E4GDRbQh
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) May 27, 2021
Following the wheel nut fiasco in Monaco, some viewers were quick to suggest that the team should have let Bottas continue on with the same set of tires that he came into the pits with, or with three new ones. However, following the race, Mercedes clarified why they couldn’t do that.
Either way, Valtteri and the Brackley-based outfit had a real nightmare of a weekend. They’ll want to move past this and get to the next race as soon as possible.
Valtteri Bottas and Mercedes keen to rebound in Baku
Even a few hours prior to the wheel nut coming off, Bottas was already training for the next race in Azerbaijan. His tweet was reposted by the Silver Arrows’ social media team, with both parties eager to strut their stuff in the streets of Baku.
Preach, @ValtteriBottas! 👊 pic.twitter.com/LRQj3JhL8I
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) May 27, 2021
The tweet read, “The comeback is always greater than the setback.”
Both the Finn and his team would certainly hope that is the case. Bottas has won a race at this venue before, so he’ll definitely be chomping at the bit to hit the track.
He may be out of the championship running, although it is still early days. But the Finn still has all to fight for if he wants to stay with the 7-times world champions next season.
Can Bottas turn his season around with a win in Azerbaijan? We shall soon see.
Read More: WATCH: Valtteri Bottas Gives Tour Of Mercedes’ Special Motorhome
