Source:REUTERS/Hollie Adams
[Saba Sports News] At the F1 season opener, the Australian Grand Prix this weekend, Valtteri Bottas will be penalized 5 places regardless of his qualifying performance. It is reported that Bottas’ last F1 race was at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the end of 2024, which was his last race with the Alfa Romeo team. In the first lap, Bottas collided with Sergio Perez, causing him to spin, and as a result, Bottas received a 10-second penalty. In the latter half of the race, Bottas’ front tires locked up, leading to a crash with Kevin Magnussen. This incident resulted in Bottas being penalized by having to serve a drive-through. However, by that time, Bottas had already retired from the race due to severe damage to his car, so the stewards converted the penalty to a 5-place grid drop for his next F1 race. That “next race” is the Melbourne Grand Prix this weekend. Although the FIA introduced new regulations last year stating that from 2026 onward, grid penalties must be served in the next sprint race or grand prix within 12 months of the penalty being applied, this only applies to penalties issued after the new regulations were enacted. Since Bottas’ penalty occurred under the old rules, it must still be enforced.
The editor believes that as a debut member of the Cadillac F1 team, this penalty may impact his performance at the start, but given that the team’s overall competitiveness is still in the building stage, this penalty is more symbolic in nature.