Bottas adamant “something is wrong” with his F1 car after P10 in Baku qualifying

The Finn could only manage tenth in qualifying, while Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton is set to start the race from second.

It was a role reversal of the last race in Monaco where Bottas was fighting for pole, while Hamilton was struggling for pace.

Reflecting on his qualifying in Baku, Bottas said: “It was pretty messy as expected with the red flags, yellow flags everything. From my side, the last run I missed like many others, but something is still not right. I’m so far off the pace and I have no clue why. I have no explanation.

“I’m losing every corner. If I push harder, I’m in the wall. So that’s the limit.”

Bottas has often fared well in Baku over the years, winning in 2019.

Had it not been for a late puncture, he would have won the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Bottas remains adamant something isn't quite right with his Mercedes W12.

“It’s strange,” Bottas added. “Coming here, I thought we would be fighting at the front. Lewis is at the front, in the fight, and I should be as well. I have no explanation. I think something is wrong.

“Try to understand everything I can and tomorrow, with this race, anything can happen. There will be opportunities.”

Bottas' top-ten start in Azerbaijan means he maintained his record of making Q3 in every race he's participated in as a Mercedes driver - stretching back to the 2017 Australian Grand Prix.