Valtteri Bottas has had a bad run of races in the last few rounds. Although qualifying goes great, Sunday turns against the driver. With yet another bad run at the Qatar GP, Bottas’s last few races with Mercedes aren’t the happy ending he would have wanted. However, Toto Wolff did his best to console his driver in a heartwarming move after the race.

A tire puncture and DNF disrupted Bottas’ run to the podium at Qatar, giving away some crucial points to Red Bull, who finished P2 and P4. Bottas, who has been crucial for both championship battles, has often been compromised by situations that are usually out of his hands, and it may have been a bit too much for the Finn in Qatar.

Toto Wolff knew how hard it has been for Bottas. In a video after the race in Losail, we see Wolff giving a much-needed hug to a devastated Valtteri Bottas.

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With two more races to share, Bottas must finish with a powerful run of form. Not only because of a closing championship in hand but also so that he can take his final bow in the Brackley outfit with grace.

A disastrous Sunday for Valtteri Bottas

The Sunday in Losail just wasn’t for Valtteri Bottas. With a three-place grid stop to kick off the race, a bad start soon saw the Finn in P11. After an aggressive one-stop strategy proved fatal for his race in P3, Bottas was in the pits with a punctured front left.

Despite making it back on the track in P14, Bottas had to retire the W12 seven laps ahead of the checkered flag.

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The entire mess came as a shock to the driver. Regarding his poor start in the race, Bottas explained his difficulties starting on medium tires. “[I was] quite surprised. On the formation lap I couldn’t really get enough temperature into the tires and then the race start it was wheel-spinning and the first three corners were pretty much on ice, but then it was getting better and better.”

Although things got better for the Finn, the puncture came out of nowhere. “With the puncture, there was no warning, no vibration, no loss of grip, everything was feeling normal and the pace was very consistent and then it just happened. Not the first time to be honest.”

With only two more rounds in the season, hopefully, there will be no more surprises for the Mercedes driver, except pleasant ones. As Bottas has his final run with the team, there is all to play for.

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