Mercedes F1 Claim They “Couldn’t See” Vettel’s Debris Which Ruined Bottas’ Imola Race

On Sunday, Valtteri Bottas’ race was compromised thanks to long-term rivals Ferrari. Or more specifically, debris from Sebastian Vettel’s Sf1000, which somehow managed to get lodged underneath Bottas’ W11.

The Finn had started the race on pole and had gotten out of the blocks at a rapid pace. However, later on in the race, Bottas was heard complaining about a drop in power.

That incident, along with a lucky VSC pit stop for Hamilton, meant that the Briton had a free hand to notch his 93rd career win, while Bottas came home in P2. However, it was only after the race that the reason behind Bottas’ loss of power was revealed.

At Mercedes’ post-race program, Race Debrief, the team’s Track Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin, said, “We didn’t know what it was.

“When you look at the size of the bit, and the fact that it’s red, you can’t believe that we couldn’t see it on the cameras. It was lodged in, and it was the black area that was visible. And because the whole car is black there, we couldn’t see it.”

It certainly was an unfortunate situation for Bottas. Had the team been able to spot it, they could have fished the debris out during his first stop, or so claims Shovlin.

Nevertheless, the Finn maintained a decent pace and despite making an error that led to Max Verstappen taking P2, he had some luck go his way as the Dutchman was forced to retreat due to tire problems.

Mercedes say that Valtteri Bottas made the right decision to drive over the debris

Shovlin believes that Bottas’s decision to drive over the debris was vindicated. Had he not done so, his race could have ended a whole lot worse.

“He definitely made the right decision to go straight over it. Because taking that onto the tire would very likely have caused an instant puncture. So that was a good call. But through no fault of his, it basically held him back for the whole afternoon.”

In the end, Bottas took the pace drop, but what he managed to do was seal Mercedes’s 7th Constructors’ title. He’ll be eagerly looking forward to Turkey as a chance to bag his 3rd win of the season.