Valtteri Bottas bewildered by lack of luck after Mercedes wheel nut woe

Bottas, Mercedes, Monaco — Photo: © LAT Images

Monaco Grand Prix

Bottas bewildered by lack of luck after Mercedes wheel nut woe

Bottas' race was ended by a "machined" wheel nut in Monaco

Ewan Gale

Wednesday 26 May 2021 09:28

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Valtteri Bottas has been left to question why he is currently being plagued by bad luck in the wake of his bizarre exit from the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Finn was forced to retire after the wheel nut was "machined" onto the front right of his W12 to the extent it was only removed once the car had returned to the factory in Brackley.

The misfortune was the second major pit stop issue for Bottas this season after he was taken out of contention for the win in the season-opening race in Bahrain before a collision with George Russell in Imola forced his first retirement this year.

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While insisting he was not upset with Mercedes, Bottas is bewildered by his current run of rotten misfortune.

Asked if he ever wondered why bad luck always fell his way, he replied: "Sometimes I do. I think it is bad luck from my side.

"It would have been a different feeling if I was second. It would not have been a win but I think third in qualifying and finishing second...

"Obviously a bit of luck for us when [Charles] Leclerc couldn't start the race and at least there was something coming towards me but then we lost everything so what can you do."

Bottas expects Red Bull form to continue in Baku

Bottas' retirement means he has dropped to fourth in the drivers' standings behind McLaren's Lando Norris, and sits 58 points behind leader and Monaco winner Verstappen.

Botas is a least hoping for an upturn in form in Azerbaijan in early June, adding: "I think the next race is different to this one.

"This is a really unique track and we always knew coming here, this would not be the strongest track for our car. Baku might be hopefully better but they [Red Bull] have a strong package.

"They have shown it in every race weekend both in qualifying and the race. No doubt, it is going to be close and I hope for a better performance in Baku."