Former Components 1 world champion Damon Hill referred to as the scenario ‘ridiculous’ as one driver was advised they must serve a grid penalty on the Australian Grand Prix in early March
Former Components 1 world champion Damon Hill has criticised the “ridiculous” circumstances that imply Valtteri Bottas should serve a penalty when he returns to racing. Following a yr away from competitors, Bottas will probably be again on the grid in 2026 after signing with F1 newcomers Cadillac.
But his prospects of scoring factors right away will probably be hindered by a grid penalty he is required to serve on the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March. The sanction stems from his remaining F1 race, driving for Sauber on the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the place he crashed into Kevin Magnussen – who was additionally competing in his final race earlier than being dropped by Haas.
Bottas was compelled to retire from that race earlier than he may serve a time penalty, leading to a five-place grid drop for his subsequent Grand Prix look. That proved to be the closing occasion of the 2024 marketing campaign and Bottas, after shedding his Sauber drive, spent 2025 working as reserve driver at Mercedes.
The FIA has subsequently amended the sporting laws in order that unserved penalties expire from a driver’s file after 12 months. Nonetheless, this rule change got here into impact after Bottas obtained his penalty, and the governing physique has confirmed they’re powerless to intervene.
An FIA spokesperson clarified: “At present, the penalty will stand, as there isn’t a mechanism to retroactively amend the penalty that was utilized beneath the laws in pressure on the time. The change of regulation is meant to keep away from comparable anomalous conditions sooner or later.”
This implies Bottas will start his first race for Cadillac 5 locations behind his qualifying place on the Albert Park Circuit, lowering his possibilities of securing a powerful consequence on debut. In response, 1996 champion Hill expressed his disapproval on his Instagram Story, writing: “How ridiculous.”
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The affable 36-year-old Finn is taken into account an honorary Australian, having been warmly welcomed by the locals. He spends a major quantity of his leisure time Down Beneath and will probably be heading south early for one more look forward of his inaugural F1 weekend with Cadillac.
Bottas has dedicated to driving on the Adelaide Motorsport Competition the weekend earlier than the Melbourne occasion. He is because of take the wheel of a Ferrari 156/85, which competed within the 1985 F1 season. Bottas will drive the chassis that Italian Michele Alboreto raced in that yr, and he is additionally scheduled to take part in some fan meet-and-greet actions in the course of the multi-day occasion.
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Bottas has needed to wait to get behind the wheel of his Cadillac automobile for the primary time. The crew did full a shakedown of their first F1 racing machine at Silverstone final week however, with their mileage restricted to only 15km, team-mate Sergio Perez was the one one who bought the possibility to take it for a spin.
The Mexican mentioned afterwards: “In the present day was actually a tremendous day. Everybody ought to really feel extremely proud to finish our first laps as a crew. Every individual has labored so onerous to get to this second, and it was emotional to be a part of motorsport historical past. We will, and may, all take pleasure in this, but it surely completely fired me up for extra. I simply need to get again in and get mileage – that is simply the beginning.”
