Dutch Grand Prix

Bottas denies disobeying Mercedes fastest lap orders

Ewan Gale Sunday 5 September 2021 18:25

Bottas denies disobeying Mercedes fastest lap orders

Valtteri Bottas has insisted he did not go against Mercedes team orders and attempt the fastest lap at the end of the Dutch Grand Prix.

Bottas finished a distant third after the team initially attempted a one-stop strategy as Mercedes tried to use a strategic pincer movement to overhaul Max Verstappen, who ultimately was too strong.

After pitting for a second time in the closing stages due to tyre concerns, Bottas was instructed not to try and set the fastest lap and take away a point from team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

The Finn, however, went on to set purple sector times in the first two sections of the Zandvoort circuit, leading to Mercedes chief strategist James Vowles instructing him to abort his lap as the timing screens lit up.

The Finn did set the fastest lap despite backing off at the end, forcing Mercedes into pitting Hamilton for a third time and rescue the point on the final lap.

"I didn't go for the fastest lap. Lewis got it, as a team we got solid points," said Bottas. "Unfortunately for me, pretty uneventful.

"Obviously, I kept pushing but we tried a one-stop so I went for a long first stint and tried to survive with the tyres to the end.

"But in the end, I had quite a big gap behind me so we just made a stop for safety basically. We tried but we didn't have enough pace today."

Latest News

Las Vegas Grand Prix

F1 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix weather forecast - latest today as conditions set to cause havoc

7 minutes ago

Las Vegas Grand Prix

F1 chief slams 'TERRIBLE' Las Vegas Grand Prix track

25 minutes ago

Lewis Hamilton

DELAYED Hamilton debut blamed on Ferrari

1 hour ago

Latest F1 News

F1 team principal admits driver ERROR to blame for bizarre DNF

2 hours ago

F1 Today

F1 News Today: Verstappen in Las Vegas GP NIGHTMARE as FIA announce major penalty

2 hours ago

Las Vegas Grand Prix

Verstappen hit by BIZARRE issue at Las Vegas Grand Prix

3 hours ago

More news

F1 Race Calendar 2024

GP AUSTRIA 28 - 30 Jun

George Russell

GP GREAT BRITAIN 5 - 7 Jul

Lewis Hamilton

GP HUNGARY 19 - 21 Jul

Oscar Piastri

GP BELGIUM 26 - 28 Jul

Lewis Hamilton

GP NETHERLANDS 23 - 25 Aug

Lando Norris

GP ITALY 30 Aug - 1 Sep

Charles Leclerc

GP AZERBAIJAN 13 - 15 Sep

Oscar Piastri

GP SINGAPORE 20 - 22 Sep

Lando Norris

GP USA 18 - 20 Oct

Charles Leclerc

GP MEXICO 25 - 27 Oct

GP QATAR 29 Nov - 1 Dec

GP ABU DHABI 6 - 8 Dec

Complete kalender 2024

F1 News 24/7

Races

About GPFans

GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.

We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.

With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.

Follow us on your favorite social media channel

Corporate & Media

Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

Bottas denies disobeying Mercedes fastest lap orders

Bottas denies disobeying Mercedes fastest lap orders