Bottas Jump Start: Formula 1 Stewards showed bias for Mercedes? Valtteri Bottas escapes penalty

Bottas Jump Start: Formula 1 Stewards showed a bias for Mercedes; penalized Kimi Raikkonen but not Bottas for the same offence.

Valtteri Bottas made a blunder at the start of the race as he allegedly made a jump start at the start of the race, but still managed to escape a penalty.

According to the definition by Formula 1, “When a driver moves off his grid position before the five red lights have been switched off to signal the start. Sensors detect premature movement and a jump start earns a driver a penalty.”

By that definition, Bottas was apparently seen making a jump start, which even gave him an awkward start to the race, as he lost his position to the other drivers on the grid.

Valtteri Bottas Jump Start: Watch the video

Stewards showed a bias for Bottas

Social media was surprised when Mercedes’ driver was not immediately penalised for the jump start but Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen was given a 5-second penalty for the same offence.

Many even alleged that stewards has shown a bias for Mercedes and it is not an allegation, which has been imposed on the FIA for the first time while involving Mercedes.

Nevertheless, due to the awkward start by Bottas, the Finnish driver lost his advantage on the grid, as the cars right behind him cruised past over him.

Also read: Undercut F1: What is the meaning of ‘Undercut’ in Formula 1; complete explanation

Max Verstappen who started from 7th, currently ruling at 2nd position. But the mighty Mercedes’ car has propelled Bottas to compensate for the loss, and by the end of the race he might end up at the podium.