© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff reveals Ferrari brought in some “heavy equipment” to try and remove Valtteri Bottas’ wheel after the Monaco Grand Prix.
Bottas retired from the Monaco Grand Prix during his first pit stop, as Mercedes was unable to remove his front-right tyre due to a wheel nut issue.
More precisely, the wheel gun was applied at an angle, which led to the driving faces of the wheel nut being chipped away, making it completely round.
Mercedes Technical Director James Allison said that the team was unable to remove the wheel even after the race, and it would have to be ground off at Mercedes’ Brackley factory.
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Toto Wolff revealed one more interesting detail. After the race Mercedes sought out help from Ferrari, but not even the Italian team’s “heavy equipment” was enough to remove the wheel.
“The gun made the wheel nut completely round,” Wolff explained.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. Nothing is left of it. Valtteri told us he could see the metal shavings fly away. The tyre is still on the car.
“Ferrari also helped us with some heavy equipment,” concluded the Austrian.
