Bottas accepts blame and reprimanded for Grosjean FP2 clash

Valtteri Bottas has been reprimanded for causing a collision with Romain Grosjean during second practice for the 2019 Formula 1 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The collision occurred in the closing stages of the session as Bottas attempted an overtaking manoeuvre up the inside at Turn 11.

Grosjean appeared to close the door on the Mercedes driver and the pair made subsequent contact. Bottas sustained front wing damage, while Grosjean lost part of the floor on his Haas.

Both drivers were summoned to see the stewards directly after FP2 concluded and Bottas received a reprimand after accepting responsibility for the coming together.

“The end of FP2 was a bit compromised with a minor crash I had with Grosjean, I think he didn’t really see me coming up the inside,” Bottas explained.

“My apologies but there was nowhere for me to disappear. I went for the overtake and that was it.

“Honestly I thought he would see me coming. He wasn’t covering the line so I thought he was aware I was there but maybe he didn’t look in the mirror before turning in.

“I expected him to see me and I saw the gap decreasing and there was no escape.”

Bottas, who will start Sunday’s finale from the back of the grid after taking on a fresh power unit, completed a Friday practice sweep by topping both sessions at Yas Marina.

“It was a very good day on track,” he said.

“The first few laps and runs, it felt pretty good and the car balance was not far away, so a nice starting point.

“Obviously a fresh engine for me as well, so I tried to tune it in to the ride settings and it felt good from the beginning.

“I had a positive feeling in the car today in both sessions, my pace seemed to be good.

“For sure there’s things we can improve for tomorrow, but it’s started off in the right way.

“From today it looks positive,” he added. “You always need to be careful because it’s only practice and you see many teams normally make big jumps into Saturday.

“But the main thing for me and to focus on in FP3 is to try and get a good car for the race pace because no matter what I do in the qualifying I will be starting last.

“That’s the reality this weekend so I need to focus on the race pace.”