P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Valtteri Bottas still faces a five-place grid penalty on his expected Formula 1 return next year, despite a change in the regulations over the winter that now times out similar sanctions
Valtteri Bottas will still have a five-place grid penalty upon his anticipated return to Formula 1 next year, despite changes in regulations that now impose time limits on similar penalties.
The penalty was given to him after a collision with Kevin Magnussen during last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The ruling by the Stewards specified a drop of five grid positions for Bottas in the next race he participates in.
Since Bottas lost his seat at Sauber this season and moved to a reserve role at Mercedes, he has not yet had the chance to serve the penalty.
While there was speculation that the new rule changes would exempt Bottas from the penalty, it has been clarified that the penalty will still need to be served under the previous regulations.
The FIA’s recent regulation change sets a time limit of twelve months for serving grid drop penalties in the next Sprint or Race in which the driver participates.
This means that Bottas, along with other drivers like Jenson Button and Robert Shwartzman, who have penalties from previous incidents, will still need to serve their respective grid drops according to the previous regulations.
