Formula One: Bottas' wheel is finally freed

Mercedes posted a video of a crouching mechanic freeing up the wheel with special equipment. PHOTOS: AFP/MEDIAPORTAL DAIMLER AG, SCREENGRAB FROM MERCEDESAMGF1/TWITTER

LONDON (REUTERS) - Mercedes have finally stopped the clock on Valtteri Bottas' Monaco Grand Prix tyre change after removing a stuck wheel from his car two days after it forced his retirement.

The Formula One champions posted a video on Thursday (May 27) of a crouching mechanic freeing up the front right wheel with special equipment at the factory on Tuesday morning.

"The job's done. Onwards and upwards from here,"

Mercedes added on Twitter: "All eyes on Baku to come back smarter and stronger."

It normally takes about a second and a half to remove a nut, change a wheel and put a new nut on.

"The margin for error is very small and if just the slightest problem happens, it slows the stop down or potentially, in an absolute disastrous case, this happens," head of strategy James Vowles said in a debrief.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.