REVIEW BY BEN STEVENS
Sunday
Did he jump the start?
That’s the question everyone’s asking about
race winner Valtteri Bottas. The answer: well, it
depends on what you mean by “jump”.
If you’re asking whether Bottas set his car
into motion before the lights went out, then yes –
the footage clearly shows his right front rotating
with the lights still on. If you’re asking whether he
broke the rules relating to starts, then no, he did
not.
As you probably know by now, the FIA
cleared Bottas based on his transponder
indicating he acted within 0.201s of the lights
going out – in essence perfectly anticipating the
start. As to the aforementioned wheel movement?
Well, it’s apparently acceptable under the grounds
drivers are allowed the smallest amount of
leeway, which is an undisclosed distance given
to accommodate drivers needing to adjust their
clutch. Was Bottas adjusting his clutch? Nope,
he’d released it entirely – still, he crept within the
margins, and this time the gamble paid off.
Of course, the discussion is certain to not end
there. Maybe the FIA needs to have a look at its
transponders. Maybe the leeway distance needs to
be revealed, or even removed. Maybe the rulebook
needs clarifying to, you know… avoid confusion.
In the end they can define a jumpstart however
they want, it just helps if the drivers and teams –
let alone the millions watching around the world
– can share their understanding.