Yesterday at 13:50
Valtteri Bottas may not have to serve the five-place grid penalty
he received at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he returns to the
grid next year. The 10-time Grand Prix winner is expected to be
announced imminently as a Cadillac F1 driver for the 2026 season ,
following news broken by RacingNews365 and Formula.hu that the
35-year-old has signed with the championship's newest team.
However, the Finnish driver will likely be freed from the penalty
he incurred during his final race with Stake, which came before his
year on the sidelines as Mercedes' test and reserve driver. Just
past the halfway point of the season-ending Grand Prix at Yas
Marina Circuit, Bottas locked up heavily while defending his
position against Kevin Magnussen, who was making his final
appearance for Haas. The pair made contact at the apex of Turn 6,
spinning the Danish driver around. Although Magnussen was able to
continue - albeit with a compromised race - Bottas suffered
terminal damage and was forced to retire. As a result, he was
handed a five-place grid drop for the next race in which he would
compete. With Bottas not holding a full-time seat for the following
season, the penalty would carry over to his return - whenever that
might occur. However, a recent change to the FIA's sporting
regulations now requires that grid penalties be served within 12
months of being issued. It remains unclear whether Bottas will
still be obligated to serve the penalty, as it was handed down
before the regulation change. But the expectation is that it will
be removed, unless Bottas steps in as a substitute for either
George Russell or Kimi Antonelli before 9 December 2025. Either
way, he will most likely begin his Cadillac stint - set to start at
the Australian Grand Prix - penalty-free.
