Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Bottas suggests ‘massive bee’ distracted him at start

by Phillip Horton
5 years ago
A A
Bottas suggests ‘massive bee’ distracted him at start

(L to R): Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 and Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Mercedes AMG F1 W11 at the start of the race. Russian Grand Prix, Sunday 27th September 2020. Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Russia.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Valtteri Bottas reckons a “massive bee” contributed to him not being able to pass Lewis Hamilton at the start of Formula 1’s Russian Grand Prix.

Bottas challenged Hamilton for the lead at the start of the race at the Sochi Autodrom and took to the outside line into Turn 2, but went over the exit kerb, allowing Hamilton to remain ahead.

Bottas followed Hamilton through the opening phase of the race and inherited the lead when the Briton was handed two five-second time penalties for practice start violations.

He went on to cruise clear of Max Verstappen to claim his second victory of the season.

RelatedPosts

Sauber's motorhome will make one last appearance at Monza

Why the F1 Italian GP will mark the end of an era for Sauber

1 hour ago
The FIA has called a meeting with F1 OEMs about the return of V8 engines

FIA calls meeting with F1 teams amid plans for V8 engine return

2 hours ago

“Obviously I tried [to pass], as I knew the start was going to be the first opportunity,” he said.

“I was compromised because there was a massive bee or something smashed into my visor, just before the braking and that’s why I couldn’t really see when I should brake and went a bit too deep.

“I knew it was going to be a long race after that and with the Medium tyres I had there would be opportunities.

“Then Lewis had a penalty and once I was in clean air I felt the pace was pretty, pretty awesome and I could really control everything.”

It marked Bottas’ first victory since the opening round of the campaign back in July.

“It’s nice to get a win again,” said Bottas. “It’s been a while and it definitively feels good.

“Now [I need to] try to keep the momentum, I managed to squeeze a bit more points against Lewis, there are still quite a few races to go and you never know.

“I’ll keep pushing, won’t give up and we’ll see how it ends up.”

Bottas cut Hamilton’s title advantage to 44 points.

Tags: F1MercedesRussianGPSochiValtteri Bottas
Share199Tweet125Share

Related Posts

Sauber's motorhome will make one last appearance at Monza
Formula 1

Why the F1 Italian GP will mark the end of an era for Sauber

1 hour ago
The FIA has called a meeting with F1 OEMs about the return of V8 engines
Formula 1

FIA calls meeting with F1 teams amid plans for V8 engine return

2 hours ago
Lewis Hamilton is gearing up for his first Italian GP in Ferrari red
Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton admits to ‘huge pressure’ ahead of first F1 Italian GP at Ferrari

3 hours ago
Load More

Discussion about this post

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
15Dutch GP29-31 August
16Italian GP05-07 September
17Azerbaijan GP19-21 September
18Singapore GP03-05 October
19United States GP17-19 October

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri309
Lando Norris275
Max Verstappen205
George Russell184
Charles Leclerc151
Lewis Hamilton109
Andrea Kimi Antonelli64
Alexander Albon64
Nico Hulkenberg37
Isack Hadjar37

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

Sauber's motorhome will make one last appearance at Monza
Formula 1

Why the F1 Italian GP will mark the end of an era for Sauber

September 4, 2025
The FIA has called a meeting with F1 OEMs about the return of V8 engines
Formula 1

FIA calls meeting with F1 teams amid plans for V8 engine return

September 4, 2025
Lewis Hamilton is gearing up for his first Italian GP in Ferrari red
Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton admits to ‘huge pressure’ ahead of first F1 Italian GP at Ferrari

September 4, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd