Bottas start ‘ perfect’
> FIA clear Austrian GP winner after claims of ‘jump start’ by Vettle
THE VICTORIOUS Valtteri Bottas’ ‘perfect’ start in Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix was the result of “fortuitous judgement”, the sport’s ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA), said.
Finn Bottas roared away from pole position with immaculate timing as the lights went out at the start of the race – a getaway so perfect that second-placed Sebastian Vettel believed he had made a ‘jump start’.
The frustrated German, who was second on the grid for Ferrari, said he could not believe the data and felt convinced Bottas had jumped the lights – and after the race described him as ‘un-human’.
But a spokesperson for the FIA explained that though Bottas had been lucky and it may have appeared possible that he made a jump start, he had been cleared of any possible wrongdoing.
“The jump start system judges whether a car has moved a pre-set (very small) distance between the point at which the last red light comes on and the point at which the lights go out,” said the FIA spokesperson.
“We have found that need to allow for some very small movement, as drivers sometimes need to make clutch adjustments in preparation for the start.
“This system, which is dependent on the official timing provided by Formula One, has been in operation for some 20 years and has proved extremely reliable in that time.
“In today’s instance, Valtteri Bottas did not exceed this (very small) limit before the start was given.
“Simply put – he made an exceptionally accurate and fortuitous judgement call, anticipating the moment the lights went out with great precision.
“Any movement prior to the moment the lights went out was within the tolerances allowed.”
Vettel, who had protested immediately during the race, said afterwards that he “didn’t believe” the quoted reaction time of Bottas.
A headstrong Vettel continued to flirt with controversy on Sunday by accusing the victorious Bottas of jumping the start at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The championship leader, who escaped any sanction last Monday following his ‘road rage’ attack on Lewis Hamilton in last month’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, was evidently frustrated at being beaten again.
He called for an investigation into Bottas’ start immediately after his Ferrari was beaten off the grid by the triumphant Mercedes driver, and moaned after the race that he needed one more lap to catch and pass him.
He finished six-tenths of a second behind the Finn, whose second career victory moved him into contention for the drivers’ championship, in which he is 15 points behind Hamilton, who trails Vettel by 20.
Vettel said he accepted that the race stewards are the officials who have authority to judge the legality of a start, but was unconvinced when told that on-screen graphics from official television coverage showed Bottas’ reaction time, when the lights went out, was 0.201 seconds.
Bottas said it was the best start of his life and most paddock observers, while conceding that it was close to a ‘jump’ start, said it looked like a perfect start.
“I think that was the start of my life, I was really on it today,” he said. “When the car was moving, the lights were off... That is the main thing.”
The Finn admitted his start involved some guessing and anticipation.
“There are different variations, since the lights are on and go off, but the variation for a long time has not been massive,” he said.
“So, you know, more or less, the zone when it is going off. So, gambling with your reaction and guessing sometimes you get a mega one or sometimes you are a bit late.
“Today was my best reaction for the lights. As long as it is positive, it is fine.”
Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who finished third for Red Bull and who started the race behind Bottas, said he also felt that he jumped the start.
“The main thing is it was positive, but the lights were held for a long time – more than normal,” he said.
“There is always a window, but it seemed longer and you are waiting and waiting and he went, but the lights went out. I guess he got lucky.” – AFP