Bottas did not feel tyre blowout coming: 'There was no warning'

The Qatar Grand Prix was one to forget for Valtteri Bottas. The driver crashed out after suffering extensive damage from an unexpected blowout. He had hoped for a podium finish.

"It was tough. At the start, I just couldn’t get enough temperature in the mediums. Also maybe being on the dirty side, may be tricky. Then things were going okay, the pace was good. There was no warning of the puncture coming, so I mean, things were feeling good and suddenly the tyre goes," Bottas told Ziggo Sport in an interview.

Bottas had hoped for a podium finish

The Mercedes driver had a hard time starting the race. He was stuck in midfield for a long time because he was unable to overtake cars. Dutch pundit Jack Plooij asks him if this is due to the foul air coming off the cars in front of him, as it is strange to see a Mercedes struggling like this.

"Life is strange. For sure, it’s easier in free air. I think I still should have been on the podium today without the puncture," Mercedes have thrown away a lot of points due to Bottas' DNF, allowing Red Bull to move further ahead of the team in the constructors' championship.