Breaking news
Formula 1 Singapore GP
Bottas feels car wasn't "100 percent" after rebuild
Valtteri Bottas believes his Mercedes Formula 1 car wasn't "100 percent" in the second Friday practice session in Singapore, having required a rebuild after an FP1 crash.
Valentin Khorounzhiy
Published: Sep 20, 2019, 3:47 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Finn was ruled out of the opening practice early when he lost the rear of his W10 at Turn 19 and clattered the outside barrier with the left side of the car.
He ended that session four tenths behind teammate Lewis Hamilton, but would then trail the Briton by more than a second in FP2.
Speaking afterwards, Bottas admitted the rebuilt W10 didn't feel entirely right in FP2, as he reported "friction in the steering system".
"It was a tricky one," Bottas said of his Friday. "Had a bit of an off moment in FP1, which ended my running a bit early, but everything was feeling okay until then, just lost the back end in one of the corners, and obviously here with no run-offs you pay the price.
"FP2, not sure really what was going on. Was lacking pace, every single run, every tyre compound, so I'm not quite sure if everything was right in the car, need to have a look.
"Just felt like I couldn't go any quicker, but I was one second off the pace.
Read Also:
"The only thing I could really feel, I just felt quite a bit of friction in the steering system. So, I struggled to feel the car properly. I doubt everything was 100 percent, but obviously need to have a look [at] what I can do better as well."
Hamilton said driving his Mercedes at Singapore was "a shock to the system" due to heat, humidity and the length of the lap - but the championship leader nonetheless enjoyed a very positive day.
"I was really happy," Hamilton said. "I felt much better in the car today than I have for a while. I hope that [feeling] stays over the weekend.
"But we've definitely got some areas where we can improve, which is always good. And nothing's ever perfect, so I've got to go and kind of study areas we can improve on the car, but also areas I can improve, like braking, turning points, et cetera."
Hamilton said he was wary of the threat from Red Bull, whose lead driver Max Verstappen finished just two tenths behind him in FP2.
"I mean, I was quickest in that session, but they were very, very close behind us.
"Whether or not he had a perfect lap or whether we were more turned up than them, I'll find out now [in the debrief]."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Perez: Magnussen ignored "gentleman's agreement" in practice
Next article Magnussen: Perez knows clash was his fault
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Valtteri Bottas
Yet another DNF for Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas: ‘Sometimes we don’t quite understand it’
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
12 h
Yet another DNF for Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas: ‘Sometimes we don’t quite understand it’
Valtteri Bottas denies he might lose his Cadillac seat for F1 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Valtteri Bottas denies he might lose his Cadillac seat for F1 2027
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
Formula 1
Canadian GP
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
More from
Mercedes
Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP
Toto Wolff dismisses Helmut Marko's Russell theory: "He still has what it takes"
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Toto Wolff dismisses Helmut Marko's Russell theory: "He still has what it takes"
Latest news
Cleetus McFarland set to compete full-time for 2027 ARCA championship
ARCA
ARCA ARCA 2 h
Cleetus McFarland set to compete full-time for 2027 ARCA championship
IndyCar veteran Sting Ray Robb secures United Autosports Asian Le Mans seat
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 5 h
IndyCar veteran Sting Ray Robb secures United Autosports Asian Le Mans seat
Five things to look out for at the F1 Mexico GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
7 h
Five things to look out for at the F1 Mexico GP
Every time NASCAR took a win away due yellow line violations
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
7 h
Every time NASCAR took a win away due yellow line violations
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe