Bottas not happy with black overalls: "I lost three kilos in the race"

During the Grand Prix of Spain, the temperatures were quite high, up to over 30 degrees. Valtteri Bottas was therefore not very comfortable in his black suit.

To show support for the Black Lives Matter movement Mercedes have chosen not to drive with the silver arrows this year, but rather with a black version of the car. Of course, matching overalls were also added.

However, Bottas isn't very happy with the latter. "It was very hot in the car and I have the feeling it is hotter this year. Of course we have changed the colour of the overalls and it is well known that black absorbs more heat, especially with a direct sun on it. I don't know the exact figures for how much hotter black is than white, but this year it's very hot," the Finn told RaceFans.net.

Affecting performance

According to the Mercedes driver, the colour is not the only reason why he is so hot in the car. "There's a new rule this year for overalls, so they're thicker and the underwear is thicker too. So I don't know how much influence that has, but it was so hot. So I also told them, guys, these overalls are too hot. "White suits will definitely be cooler."

"I lost three kilos in the race, which is quite a lot. So that could already affect your performance. I know that of all the drivers, I'm one of the fittest, so I can have it. But it's never comfortable and there are definitely things we can improve," concluded the lost Bottas.