MONTMELO, Spain (AP) – Valtteri Bottas’ hopes of adding to his maiden Formula One win ran into mechanical problems Saturday as Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest time ahead of qualifying at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Bottas managed just eight minutes of the final practice.
Mercedes said that after it fixed an electrical problem in the power unit of Bottas’ car, the team was forced to change the engine altogether due to a water leak. Mechanics hurriedly replaced his car’s engine with the one Bottas had used through the first four races, including last round’s victory at the Russian GP.
When Bottas finally emerged onto the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, he rose to fourth – just behind teammate Lewis Hamilton – at 0.654 seconds off pacesetter Raikkonen.
Bottas ran well through Friday’s two practice sessions, clocking the second-fastest times behind Hamilton in both.