WATCH: Throwback to Valtteri Bottas's controversial fast lap incident at the 2021 Dutch GP

After almost a month of hiatus, the Formula 1 caravan has reached the Netherlands for the 15th round of the ongoing season. Ahead of a thriller at Zandvoort let’s look back at a controversial incident involving Mercedes and Valtteri Bottas.

As the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix neared its conclusion, the excitement was palpable at Circuit Zandvoort. Max Verstappen was on the brink of clinching his first home victory. But as the race approached its final laps, an unexpected twist involving Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton captured the attention of the Formula 1 world.

With Verstappen leading comfortably and the rest of the field lagging, Mercedes saw an opportunity to secure a crucial point for the fastest lap. Both Bottas and Hamilton were called in for a final pit stop to change tyres. However, this routine strategy turned into a tense standoff between the two Mercedes drivers.

Bottas, running in third place, was the first to pit with five laps remaining. At that moment, Hamilton held the fastest lap, and the team was eager to maintain that advantage. Over the radio, Bottas was instructed not to go for the fastest lap—a clear directive meant to preserve the opportunity for Hamilton, who would pit later, to secure the bonus point. But Bottas's response was telling: "Why not?"

Here is the video:

📻 "Valtteri, it's James" ... the Zandvoort edition#F1 #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/A7h12qDEZF

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 22, 2024

Despite the team's instructions, Bottas delivered a blistering lap, setting the fastest times in sectors one and two. The tension in the Mercedes garage was palpable as the team feared that Bottas might inadvertently—or perhaps intentionally—steal the fastest lap from Lewis Hamilton. 

Iconic team radio line hit the floor!

The radio crackled with urgency as a familiar voice came on: "Valtteri, it's James, please abort the fastest lap attempt before the end of the lap." The message was clear, yet Bottas's actions left many questioning his intentions.

Bottas did eventually ease off in the third sector, but it was too late—his lap time of 1:12.549 was the fastest at that point, forcing Hamilton into a last-ditch effort to reclaim the fastest lap. Hamilton responded with a lap time of 1:11.097, ensuring that the crucial point stayed in his hands. But the drama surrounding Bottas's initial lap left fans and pundits alike speculating about the dynamics within the Mercedes team.

After the race, Bottas downplayed the incident, claiming that he hadn't intentionally gone for the fastest lap. "I didn't go for the fastest lap, but Lewis did get it, so as a team, we got solid points," Bottas explained.