According to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, Valtteri Bottas should take partial blame for his early retirement during the Monaco Grand Prix.
Right from the start of the race, Bottas was running second. He then came in for a routine pitstop on lap 29 when disaster struck.
While his tyres were being changed, his front-right wheel nut got lodged into the car. As a result, his tyre was not able to come out which left him with no other option other than to retire.
The angle of approach is to blame
Wolff seems to think that Bottas’ angle of approach was one of the contributing reasons for the entire debacle.
“Valtteri stopped a little too early,” Wolff told Auto Motor und Sport.
“This meant that the mechanic had to apply the impact wrench at an angle. The awkward angle damaged the wheel nut and we couldn’t bring it down.”
Mercedes now trails Red Bull
The incident was a nail in the coffin for the German outfit as they are now behind rivals Red Bull in the Constructor’s championship by a single point.
The Monaco Grand Prix was a major setback for Mercedes as their ace driver Lewis Hamilton finished seventh. As a result, he now trails behind Max Verstappen by four points in the Drivers’ championship.
Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Read More: Verstappen hits out at Hamilton following Monaco win, says he should ‘do the talking on the track’
Why is no one commenting
on that “ASININE” statement Toto Wolf made…
(something to the effect of),
Valtteri is partially to blame for what happened with the nut not releasing from his tyre properly… because he didn’t pull in “exactly” straight…
WTF
That is not what James Allison said.
As far as I’m concerned,
I believe Toto told someone
to make sure that nut got cross-threaded, then when Valtteri did pit, this would happen & he’d be out.
GOD (or TOTO Wolf),
forbid Valtteri
should get a fair shake to
win “This Race” from Max.
How many race’s has Valtteri
lost, either by “direct orders”
by Toto, to let Lewis pass
to get the win or some kind of incident happens while being told to pit ?????
It’s ridiculous !
Think back to Monaco,
when Lewis won that race,
except he didn’t, because
“Toto” made him pit towards the end of the race, so Nico could win it. Nico was scheduled to win it,
just as he was to win
the Championship that
season, kbefore he retired.
and
Who’s bright idea was it for Nico & Lewis to switch their mechanics, their “personal” crew….?
Hmmm..
Toto Wolf
Valtteri Bottas is a
“Great Driver” !
When he was with Williams,
he was amazing to watch.
I thought he would be the perfect race partner for Lewis. He would have been too, if Toto had treated him
with the respect he deserved.
By only offering Valtteri single year contracts when he did “Everything” Mercedes
asked him to do and his race,
qualifying, podium records helped Mercedes to keep winning Championships,
the least Toto Wolf should have done, was give the man the respect he F-ing earned.
Toto has got to be one
of the top 5 Narcissist’s
in the World today !
I bet he made Claire
give up her running “Williams” as well, to be a stay at home mom.
What a “Snake”..
yeah, yeah, I know he’s
Filthy Rich & can get away with whatever he wants,
whenever he wants.
&
I’m just a disabled female who can’t even afford to purchase a car, through no fault of my own
but..
at least I have Integrity.