P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A key rule tweak by the FIA…
Valtteri Bottas will likely avoid serving his outstanding five-place grid penalty if his next race in F1 is with Cadillac at the start of 2026. Bottas picked up the penalty after colliding with Kevin Magnussen in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which was his last race in F1, as he didn’t secure a Sauber drive for 2025. Although he continues to be active in F1 as Mercedes’ test and reserve driver, Bottas hasn’t participated in a grand prix since Abu Dhabi last year. A rule tweak by the FIA in the sporting regulations means Bottas’ penalty will expire before his expected full-time return to the grid with Cadillac. Many reports indicate that Bottas is set to race for Cadillac in 2026, becoming their first F1 driver signing, and an announcement seems imminent.
