Valtteri Bottas says he was not trying to pass Lewis Hamilton when the two of them collided at turn one on the first lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Bottas, who finished ninth, insisted that he was trying to prevent anyone passing him on the apex, as it has happened to him before.
“To be honest I wasn’t trying to pass him. I was more focused on the cars behind and not to let anyone try to pass me from outside or inside. That’s why I had to brake late. That has happened to me before when I’ve been too conservative and someone has passed me either on the inside or outside.
“It just caught me out then, going into the corner how tight they were keeping the line and how much they stopped their cars at the apex. I don’t think they expected me to be there. It’s a shame. It cost me places in the race today and also a shame for Lewis.
The Finn also said he was surprised to have to undertake a drive-through penalty due to the incident, as he believes that he wasn’t at fault.
“I have to say I am a little bit [surprised]. But I need to have a better look to see if really I need to look in the mirror and swallow my mistake.”
Bottas’ 9th place puts him in 11th place in the Drivers’ Championship, with six points from the first two races. His team, Williams, are 4th in the Constructors’ Championship with 20 points.
Bottas will be hoping to improve in the next race on April 18, which is in China.
