Bottas calls Mercedes 'undriveable' via on-board radio

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20:29, 26 Mar 2021

We're not used to seeing Mercedes in trouble, and even though the team had no major problems on Friday, it was clear that the car is still not where it needs to be. Valtteri Bottas even called the Mercedes car 'undriveable' during the second free practice session.

Not a trouble-free start for Mercedes

Bottas had to make do with fifth place in the second practice session, where he finished second in the first. At the end of the session he even said on the radio that the car was 'undrivable', something he confirmed to Hamilton afterwards via Sky Sports.

“The car was undriveable at times, ” Bottas said. "But we have to remember that it's Friday and that's why we have free practice."

So it will remain to be seen whether Mercedes will be able to put the problems behind them on Saturday and Sunday, but it seems clear that the car is not in the best of shape. Both Bottas and Lewis Hamilton had multiple moments like this during both sessions:

Christian Nimmervoll

@MST_ChristianN

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Das ist dann wohl, was @MercedesAMGF1 mit "mid-corner understeer" meint. Hat beim Test noch anders ausgesehen, da war das Heck lose. #BahrainGP #F12021 #F1 #Formel1

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	156
2	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	90
3	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	88
4	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	75
5	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	60
6	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	58
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	43
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	29
9	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	26
10	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	26
11	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
12	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	15
13	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	13
14	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
15	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
17	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
18	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
19	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
20	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
21	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

Bottas calls Mercedes 'undriveable' via on-board radio

Not a trouble-free start for Mercedes

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