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The stewards have opted to hand Valtteri Bottas a reprimand for causing a collision during the second practice session in Abu Dhabi.
Bottas made contact with Romain Grosjean towards the end of the session at Turn 10, as he attempted to overtake him on the inside.
The reprimand is Bottas' first this season. The stewards acknowledged that Bottas accepted blame for causing a collision.
"The Stewards reviewed video evidence and heard from the driver of car 77 (Valtteri Bottas), the driver of car 8 (Romain Grosjean) and the team representatives," read the notes.
"Valtteri accepted responsibility for the collision and acknowledged that it was a failed attempt at an overtake which resulted in the collision."
Giving his version of the events, Bottas said: “I thought he would see me coming because he was at some point trying to cover the line.
“So I thought he was aware I was there but maybe he didn’t look at the mirror before turning him. I expected him to see me and I saw the gap decreasing and there was no escape.
“Obviously my apologies, but there was no nowhere for me to disappear. I went for the overtake and that was it.”
Bottas will start Sunday's race from the back of the grid after he took on new engine components for the weekend following his issues during the race last time out in Brazil
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Replies (2)
Login to replyRam Samartha
Posts: 1,172
It was a fair and deserved reprimand. Everybody has their elbows out extra far these last races where there's nothing to lose for most of them. The fight for 3rd or 4th, or 6th or 7th is good for the team for payout but for a driver? "Woohoo, I got second place, or third place. I'm the first loser or second loser. Yay! ;)
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
The divorce has him all rattled