Valtteri Bottas says it was a case of “survival” during the Turkish F1 Gra𒆙nd Prix as he ꦺendured a torrid race.

Bottas spun on the opening lap in Turkey and sp📖un on at least four mo🌟re occasions throughout the remaining 57 laps.

He was lapped by eventual race winner and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, ultimately classifying✱ 14th.

Bottas revealed his contact with Esteban Ocon on the opening lap disrupted the ✅handling of his Mercedes explaining his struggles for the remainder 𒆙of the race.

“That was a long race, such a long day,” Bottas said. “Obviously, the first lap everything went wrong. I don’t know if it was Daniel or someone in the first corn🔥er spinning and I was avoiding them and spun as well.

“I had a contact in Turn 9 and the car was not the same anymore and I struggled to stay on track. I couldn’t stay on track. The steering wheel was like th💛is and there was a piece missing from the front wing. It was a survival and not good.”

Going into this weekend, Bottas had to outscore teammate L🍌ewis Hamilton by eight points or more to take the title fig🔴ht in Bahrain.

With the Finn failing to finish in the points, Hamilton was ensured of a seventhᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ title triumph.

When asked about Hamilton winning his seventh drivers’ crown, Bottas said: “He deserves it fully. He w🔯as better of u☂s this year overall on average. He fully deserves it so really good for him but I will try to beat him next year.”

With three rounds remaining, Bottas s🅰its 27 points clear of Max Verstappen in the race for second place in the championship.