Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes will start from the back of the grid in the next Formula One race in Belgium after causing chaos and crashes on the opening lap of the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday.
The race was stopped after Bottas braked late and collided with Lando Norris’ McLaren, which subsequently collided with Formula One leader Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, damaging both cars.
Bottas was penalized two points by the stewards for causing an avoidable collision at turn one in wet and slippery conditions.
“The Stewards took into consideration the track conditions, however the driver of car 77 was fully to blame for the collision,” they said in a statement.
Bottas, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez were among the four drivers who retired from the race on Sunday.
The Finn was passed by Norris and Verstappen after a sluggish start, and he subsequently braked far too late into a first corner.
“I’m sorry guys,” Bottas, who also collided with Perez, said over the radio.
With a seriously damaged car, Verstappen continued, dropping from third to 13th and fighting back to 10th at the finish.
After finishing third, Mercedes rival and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton reclaimed the overall lead, and Mercedes reclaimed the constructors’ championship.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said it was “a small mistake that caused such a big accident, costing them (Red Bull) a lot of points and a possible two cars on the podium.
“I am sorry for that” added the Austrian.
Christian Horner of Red Bull said it was “massively frustrating.”
“Is he going to pay the bill?,” he asked of Wolff.
“The consequence of it for us is brutal. In a cost cap environment that needs looking at by the FIA.”
Stroll colliding with Leclerc knocked him out. It had been a ‘nice bowling game,’ the unhappy Monegasque wrote on Twitter.
“I think basically Bottas lost the car in the beginning… It’s clear that Bottas just made a big mistake and took everyone out of the race,” Perez told Sky Sports television.
“It’s a big shame and a massive blow for us as a team. We also lost the engine very likely.”
Norris was retired by McLaren during the race suspension, leaving 15 cars in the race. The car of Australian Daniel Ricciardo, according to team boss Andreas Seidl, was also damaged in the chaos.
The uniforms of Formula One racing drivers are currently available at the following websites for a reasonable price:
