Probably a combination of cold tyres and having the airflow taken from his front wing.
Clealy it was Max's fault for making a brilliant start! If he hadnt done that he would not have been there.
Seriously though I think just an opening lap racing incident.
I think 15 seconds is a bit harsh.
Edit: just noticed it was 5 seconds for the clash with Max (I can live with that) and 10 seconds for driving with a damaged car. Compounded because he did not pit at the first opportunity and also not when the team had told stewards he would pit.... because the bits had already fallen off into the path of others.
Also he had one sock inside out
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
Circuitmaster wrote: ↑4 years ago
I think it'd be pretty unfair to pin any blame on Max. Any other lap, a turn 2 move around the outside would indeed be a bit risky, but on lap one it's a given that cars are going to be two abreast, that's to be expected.
I don't blame Max any more than I blame Leclerc. I just say "Shit happens, that's racing".
Another race thread turned into a discussion about penalties...
Circuitmaster wrote: ↑4 years ago
I think it'd be pretty unfair to pin any blame on Max. Any other lap, a turn 2 move around the outside would indeed be a bit risky, but on lap one it's a given that cars are going to be two abreast, that's to be expected.
I don't blame Max any more than I blame Leclerc. I just say "Shit happens, that's racing".
Another race thread turned into a discussion about penalties...
The only other thing to discuss from the race is why the stewards didn't flag CLAP over that front wing which came off dangerously in front of Hamilton.
that's a clear example of hydropholic compression - the situation which occurs when the front right wheel decompresses part of the MGU-K unit, resulting in instant residual powersources and I have no idea what I'm talking about.
Bottas winning the Japanese GP from the second row of the grid is the first time anyone has won from row 2 in all of the 31 GPs held at Suzuka.
Also Carlos Sainz scored his 50th points finish. He also notched his third top-five finish of the year, more than he’s achieved in the rest of his 98 GP career combined.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always