Valtteri Bottas handed five-place grid penalty for Belgium for causing first lap "mess"

Bottas, Mercedes, Hungary — Photo: © LAT Images

Hungarian Grand Prix

Bottas handed five-place grid penalty for Belgium for causing first lap "mess"

Bottas triggered a multiple-car collision at the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix

Ewan Gale

Sunday 1 August 2021 16:48 Updated: 16:57

Valtteri Bottas has been handed a five-place grid penalty for Belgium after causing the first lap carnage at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Starting second on a damp circuit, Bottas made a poor start as his Mercedes plummeted behind Max Verstappen and Lando Norris on the run down to turn one.

The Finn speared into the back of the McLaren driver ahead under braking to spark a multiple-car incident that forced him and Norris into retirement along with Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Sergio Perez.

Verstappen was also affected, with extensive damage to his sidepods, bargeboards and floor.

The incident triggered a red flag period in order to allow for the clean-up of the debris scattered across the Hungaroring.

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A stewards' report read: "Immediately after the start, in the braking zone to turn 1, car 77 [Bottas] collided with the rear of car 4 [Norris].

"The Stewards took into consideration the track conditions however the driver of car 77 was fully to blame for the collision."

Explaining his version of the dramatic first corner incident, Bottas, who has also been given two penalty points on his licence, said: "I had a poor start, had wheelspin off the line and lost places.

"Braking into the first corner, I was right in the gearbox of Lando and just locked the wheels. Probably, I didn't calculate the braking point quite right and hit him, then it was a mess."

"It was a great starting point for the race and for me, it was a shame."

Lando Norris was left upset having made his way up to second off the line, calling for the penalty for the Mercedes driver.

Asked if he would speak to Norris, Bottas insisted: "If I find him, yes for sure."