Bottas: "As a driver, it gives me goose bumps even now"

This week Formula 1 returns to the historic Imola. In principle, the circuit is not on the calendar, but due to the cancellation of other Grand Prix events, the track in San Marino will be visited just like in 2020. Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas looks ahead to the weekend.

"It's a legendary place. When you come here you feel the history and all the things that happened here, both good and bad things. As a driver, it gives me goosebumps even now," Bottas said in a YouTube video from Petronas Motorsports.

He continues: "It's a very penalizing track when it comes to mistakes, even very small differences in the racing line or braking point. It's a very narrow track, so you have to be precise down to the smallest detail. You have to make sure your head is completely clear before qualifying, and that you get in the 'zone'."

In 2020, Bottas had a good chance of victory, but he had to let it pass him by. He suffered damage from debris on the track, and combined with a well-timed safety car, Lewis Hamilton was able to walk away with the win. "Last year it was a very hectic weekend because it was so short. Qualifying was great, but obviously, the race didn't go as planned. I have mixed feelings about it because we did win the constructors' championship at Imola, so that was pretty cool."