F1: Valtteri Bottas Gets 3 Place Grid Penalty After Spin In Pitlane

It seems like Bottas can't catch a break - after spinning inside the pitlane during free practice 2, the Finnish driver has received a 3-place grid penalty which means that he will be positioned 3 places behind from what he eventually qualifies. 

The stewards called it dangerous driving in the pitlane which is why the Mercedes driver received the penalty. According to the investigation, Bottas was trying to leave the pit in second gear which caused the spin and the stewards concluded that it was dangerous driving. 

Bottas came P2 in the last Styrian GP

Bottas himself admitted that the team was trying something new, and he characterised it as a normal mistake. The problem isn't just the 3-place grid penalty because the FIA have handed him 2 penalty points on his super license. 

The spin caught the ire of McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl who called it unacceptable. This also diminishes Bottas chances for a contract renewal with Mercedes junior George Russell breathing down his neck in often outperforming the slow Williams. 

"The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 77 (Valtteri Bottas) and team representatives and reviewed video evidence. When BOT pulled away from his designated pit stop position, he lost control of the ( when he turned into the fast lane. He oversteered, spun and came to a stop across the fast lane near the McLaren pits. During the hearing, BOT stated that in the past they have been losing time in the pit departure. So they tried something new, which was to leave in second gear. As a result, the wheel spin was much higher and the result unexpected. Therefore he didn't manage to control the car properly into the fast lane. This has to be considered as potentially dangerous driving, especially as personnel were around in the pit lane," said the FIA in the official reprimand. 

NEWS: Valtteri receives a three-place grid penalty for pit lane spin. pic.twitter.com/ZnY621Ysws

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) June 25, 2021