Valtteri Bottas was quite angry at the Hungarian Grand Prix at the end. On the very first lap, the Finn rammed Lando Norris in Turn 1, at the end of which six cars were eliminated from the race, the two Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
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Most of the drivers involved in the incident weren’t happy with Bottas, but Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’s chief race engineer, doesn’t think his driver is to blame.
Shovlin teams up with Valtteri Bottas over the incident at turn one with Lando Norris
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Mercedes was pretty disappointed to take one of their drivers out of the race but I don’t think Valtteri deserves all the blame. Shovlin believes Bottas had no choice and that the fall wasn’t really his fault.
SINGAPORE – SEPTEMBER 16: Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff (R) and engineer Andrew Shovlin speak in the pit lane before the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 16, 2018 in Singapore. (Photo by Charles Coates / Getty Images)
“Valtteri was behind Lando before Turn 1, that must have cost him downforce, and then he misjudged the braking point and the wheels locked. When it is wet, you are the passenger, ”Shovlin explained. (Translated with Google translator)
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How does this affect the championship?
With a failed driver, all Mercedes hopes relied on seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The Brackley-based squad, however, faced a number of new obstacles as Hamilton darted across the Hungaroring.
When most drivers decided to change tires, Lewis stayed away with his intermediates. He soon regretted this decision and found himself back in the pits a lap later.
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Formula 1 F1 – Hungarian Grand Prix – Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary – August 1, 2021 Third-placed Mercedes Lewis Hamilton celebrates REUTERS / Florion Goga on the podium after the race
This mistake made him lose the lead of the race, but the Knight was determined. He fought his way forward on the starting grid and fought for third place.
The Brit took 18 points from Budapest and returned the championship lead to Mercedes. With a record of 300 points, Hamilton & Co would look forward to the Belgian GP in the hope of a win that could help them extend their lead in the championship.
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