Damage from a loo🃏se drain cover in the pit-lane has prevented Valtteri Bottas from participating in final fr🎉ee practice for the European Grand Prix in Baku.

The Finn, a podium winner last time out, was cominღg back into the pit-lane after an installation lap when he kicked up a drain grate with his front wheel, which ricocheted into the sidepod of the Willi꧅ams FW38.

Bouncing off the car into the path of marshals standin🍒g on the pit-wall - thankfully just missing them -, Bottas pulled into his garage where the team determined the damage was enough to s♔ideline him for the remaining hour.

Ahead of qualifying, the incident marks a blow for Bottas having shown impressive pace in Frid🌄ay practice, headlined ♌by a mammoth top speed of 351km/h.

It is the second time in three races that a loose drain has caused havoc after Nico Rosberg k♏icked up a cracked manhole cover in Monaco and the close-following Jenson Buওtton struck it.