Latifi suspects 'marbles' from support races caused early spin

Nicholas Latifi believes his spin on the second lap of the Belgian Grand Prix was caused by shredded rubber left on the track earlier in the day by cars competing in the event's support races.

Latifi veered wide on the exit of the first part of Les Combes while battling for position with Esteban Ocon's Alpine.

The Williams driver ran over the kerb but lost control and spun across the track into the path of the Alfa Romeo of Valtteri Bottas.

The Finn took avoiding action but slid off course into the gravel trap and into an early retirement.

• Read also: F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2022 Belgian GP

"I just got a bit off-line through turn six," Latifi explained. "I think it was one of the Alpines I was battling with."

"There must have been a lot of marbles from, I guess, the junior categories. I just understeered right off, kind of like driving in the wet on slick tyres.

"Then I just hit the gravel and it spun the rear around, which caught me by surprise quite a bit.

"I thought I would just go straight into the gravel and obviously come back on slowly. But it must have just kicked around when I got back onto the Tarmac. Then I spun across the track as a result."

While Latifi was able to collect himself and rejoin the track, ultimately finishing P18, Bottas' afternoon of racing unfortunately ended on the spot.

"I saw a bit of contact between the two cars ahead of me and then just saw Latifi spinning to the left and just tried to avoid it," commented Bottas.

"I think I avoided it, just, I don’t think we had contact. But then while that situation was over my trajectory was to the gravel and ended up spinning.

"I feel like it was either me hitting Latifi or going into the gravel. Just unlucky, wrong place at the wrong time."

Bottas' pointless run has now extended to five races. For the ten-time Grand Prix winner, a problem-free weekend can't come soon enough.

"In a way knowing that we have, in the two weeks, still two races, hopefully without penalties and without compromises, I’m just looking forward to having a clean weekend.

"That’s what we need now."

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