Valtteri Bottas Accidentally Helps Kimi Antonelli to Victory at Spa

On 30 July 2023, Valtteri Bottas, the Finnish Formula 1 driver, inadvertently provided Kimi Antonelli, the eventual race winner, with a helping hand in the battle for victory at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.

What happened?

Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, had started the Belgian Grand Prix from pole position but was unlucky when it came to his first pit stop. He had come in for a tyre change shortly before the second Virtual Safety Car phase, which was triggered by debris from lap 19 onwards. However, the phase was too short, and Antonelli was unable to capitalise on the time saved under the VSC. The other drivers who pitted during the second, longer VSC phase, however, lost less time on their tyre changes because the field was travelling more slowly under the VSC. This allowed Ferrari to complete a comparatively quicker stop, enabling Charles Leclerc to secure the lead.

Why it matters for Valtteri Bottas

As Bottas lapped him, Antonelli cleverly used the slipstream of the Cadillac on lap 33 to close the gap on Leclerc and finally overtake him a few corners later. A flabbergasted Bottas said: "They closed the gap so quickly that it really took me by surprise." The Cadillac driver had already pulled into the pits by the time Antonelli overtook Leclerc, so he didn't notice his accidental assist to Antonelli at all. During his post-race press conference, he asked: "Did I make a difference? Was he overtaken afterwards?" He was referring to Leclerc. When the journalists confirmed this, Bottas cheekily remarked: "Well then, Kimi can treat me to dinner."

What comes next?

The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of Formula 1 racing, where even a driver who is a lap down can make a difference. Bottas's slipstream proved to be a crucial factor in Antonelli's victory, and it will be interesting to see how the Finn's team reacts to this unexpected turn of events.