Mercedes confident Bottas won't have to take grid penalty despite massive crash!
F1 News
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
Despite his massive shunt in Q3 during qualifying on Saturday, Mercedes are confident they can repair the W10 of Valtteri Bottas for the Mexican Grand Prix without taking any grid penalties.
The 30-year-old clipped the wall at the final turn of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez while on his second flying lap in Q3, which turned his car into the wall at high speed. Bottas was a passenger at that point and he collided head-on into a tyre-barrier, ending his afternoon.
He got cleared by the medical team after the accident but his car seemed in bad shape, although Mercedes have now confirmed the W10 chassis is still intact and they can prepare the six-time Grand Prix winner's car in time without taking any grid penalties, as the gearbox is seemingly fine as well.
Bottas will start the Grand Prix from sixth place, and he'll need a good start if he wants to keep close to teammate Lewis Hamilton, who can seal the title later today if he outscores Bottas by over 13 points.