Mercedes explains cause of Bottas' poor Spain start - Not what driver claimed...

Mercedes have given a contrasting explanation for Valtteri Bottas' poor start to the Spanish Grand Prix t the driver's own assessment. Bottas failed to convert pole to victory for the second time in three races as he again struggled off the line.

The Finn has taken Saturday honours at the last three races, but sluggish starts have also become a trend.

Bottas just had enough to hold off Lewis Hamilton on lap one in Azerbaijan, but the Brit got the better of things in China and Spain to take victories which moved him to the top of the drivers' championship each time.

Having suggested that a line of pain had hampered him in Shanghai, Bottas described a different issue in Barcelona.

"It was the first time I've felt anything like that, like a vibration in the clutch and that's why the initial getaway was very poor," Bottas said.

"It was kind of biting and releasing in a very quick frequency. So it's really annoying. All the hard work this weekend for me went down the depths."

In the team's latest post-race video debrief, however, the team came up with a different explanation.

Mercedes sporting director Ron Meadows said: "We believe it was just a lack of grip on the pole position side.

"If you look at the support races, more often that not the second position guy or even third or fourth had a better start than the pole guy."

Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin added: "You get a bit of wheelspin and then the wheels are slipping, the clutch is slipping, there's a bit of an interaction.

It's the #SpanishGP @purepitwall debrief, but with a twist! ?? Paul talks starts, strategy, charging, curry and the Champions League with Shov and Ron straight from the pit wall in Barcelona... ? pic.twitter.com/JQUUjofqdn

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) May 15, 2019

"We're going to get all the bits and have a good look at them anyway this week to understand it.

"At the moment we think the number one issue is with the grip and not an issue with the car."

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