P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes at risk of serving FIA penalty for rival F1 team at Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Mercedes might face an FIA penalty at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix if George Russell is unable to participate and they have to rely on their reserve driver. Russell was absent from media day due to feeling unwell, but he recovered in time for FP1 on Friday. If Russell’s condition worsens over the weekend, Valtteri Bottas is poised to replace him, incurring a grid penalty for Sunday’s race. The penalty stems from an incident involving Sauber at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP that carries over to Baku under current regulations. Bottas is set to return to the F1 grid in 2026 with Cadillac. Max Verstappen is open to a potential move to Ferrari, while other F1 headlines at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix involve Alonso, Antonelli, and Aston Martin.
