Valtteri Bottas says he raised issues concerning the requirements of Mercedes’ pit stops earlier than a machined wheel nut compelled him into retirement on the Monaco Grand Prix.

Bottas holds the doubtful honour of Method One’s longest pit cease after it took Mercedes 43 hours to remove the front right wheel from his automotive following a botched tyre change in Monaco.

The wheel gun utilized by the mechanic related at an angle with the wheel nut, that means its socket machined the metallic away from the tooth of the wheel nut moderately than connecting with them.

It was unattainable for Mercedes to take away the wheel from the automotive in Monaco, and it was solely launched after it had been despatched again to the manufacturing facility within the U.Ok. the place a high-powered Dremel software was used to chop via the wheel nut.

Bottas was operating in a stable second place earlier than the pit cease challenge, that means the error seemingly value him 18 factors within the championship.

“We all the time analyze every thing very brazenly — not blaming any individuals however actually analyzing issues truthfully and admitting weaknesses, which was the pit cease.” Bottas mentioned forward of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

“As a matter of truth, it was one in all my issues already a couple of weeks in the past, that I raised with the crew.

“So it did not come from someplace out of the blue, we knew that we’re not good in pit stops as we have seen, and in addition different areas like tyre heat up in qualifying.”

Within the aftermath of the race, Mercedes crew boss Toto Wolff mentioned Bottas had stopped past his markers within the pit field, maybe contributing to the wheel gun occurring at an incorrect angle.

Bottas was shocked by these feedback, saying footage of the pit cease indicated he was comparatively correct in coming to a halt on the proper level.

Requested if he was shocked by Wolff’s feedback, Bottas mentioned: “Sure, I used to be shocked. I noticed the video, and for me it was fairly spot on the place I ended. Sure, I used to be fairly shocked.

“In fact, I wish to see all of the studies about the place I ended, and I believe I used to be like two or three centimeters off the central line. And if you happen to get that accuracy usually, it is fairly good. , you possibly can simply swing by 10/15 centimeters so I assumed it was fairly spot on.

“However it’s fairly regular debrief, to be sincere, and naturally we had discussions, the week after, nonetheless with my engineers, analyzing every thing and on the manufacturing facility they have been full fuel, understanding every thing.

“So, it’s nothing uncommon for us, it was only a greater setback than another weekends when it comes to consequence however fairly regular process in any other case.”

Bottas, who’s now 58 factors behind championship chief Max Verstappen within the drivers’ standings, additionally gave some perception into how he had handled the frustration of retiring from second place.

“Personally, for me, it took a few days, I’ve bought to say.

“It has not been the very best begin of the season and that type of challenge, when it hits you when your goal is to get some good factors is disappointing however I bought over it, I’ve bought my very own methods of getting via it, and I am eager to race once more.”