Bottas seeks solution to Mercedes set-up issues

Valtteri Bottas believes a poor front end on his Mercedes W12 is costing significant time after ending Thursday practice for the Monaco Grand Prix over four-tenths off the pace.

Bottas set the fifth-fastest time in second practice but although his best effort was 0.423secs slower than pacesetter Charles Leclerc the Finn trailed team-mate Lewis Hamilton by just 0.033secs.

“I feel like, from my side, I am lacking quite a bit of front end in the car on this track," explained Bottas.

"We have had similar issues at some tracks a little bit in mid-corner but this is mainly slow-speed corners and if you don’t have the feel of the front if it is going to turn in or not you are going to lose easily quite a bit of time.

“Also, it feels like my car is quite stiff like all the bumps and cambers in the corners, it is quite upsetting so is something to have a look at."

Despite Mercedes having started on pole at each of the past three races, the team has struggled to get its tyres into the optimum operating window compared to Red Bull.

Traffic around the twisting streets is inevitable in qualifying on Saturday which will affect the ability to warm up tyres at a driver's own leisure with Bottas insisting the team must get on top of the issue.

"[Tyre warm-up] will be important," he said. "Today for the first lap, I couldn’t get them to work yet but we need to work hard tomorrow and try to figure out.

"I feel like some cars might have a bit of an advantage to us on that.”

The Finn added: “Ferrari looked really quick and Red Bull as well so it is not only going to be about two teams so it could be fun.”

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