Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas explained that he was caught out by the damp grass on the exit of Turn 1 as he crashed out of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix.
Bottas ended 2017 as the in-form driver, taking back-to-back pole positions to cap the campaign, and made it through to Q3 at Albert Park.
However, he clipped the inside kerb at Turn 1 on his first push lap and ran slightly wide, dipping a wheel onto the grass, which remained damp due to heavy rain through the morning.
Bottas’ W09 snapped sideways and he slammed into the exit barrier, causing the session to be halted while the wreckage was removed.
Bottas thus finished Q3 without a time and was provisionally set to start from 10th position, though Mercedes has confirmed that his gearbox was damaged in the impact, and he will drop to 15th on the grid due to the resultant penalty.
“I used a bit more track in the exit of Turn 1, went a bit too wide actually,” said a circumspect Bottas.
“I was just surprised it was still a bit damp from the rain previously, I lost the rear of the car and tried to correct it but these things happen quickly.
“So nothing I could do really and I hit the wall on the exit of Turn 2.”
Discussing his mentality for Sunday’s 58-lap race, Bottas commented: “We approach tomorrow with a fighting spirit.
“There are still no points from Saturday, points are given on Sunday and we will go for the race and try and come up as high as we can.”
