Listen & read
Valtteri Bottas races free of grid penalties for the 2026 season opener in Melbourne. The FIA officially cancels his five-place drop from the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Bottas faced uncertainty over serving this penalty upon his return, but a clarification in F1’s sporting regulations resolves the issue. Article B1.9.5h now defines a grid penalty as a drop for the next race within 12 months, while Article B2.5.4b retroactively applies this rule, clearing Bottas of his pending sanction. “Apparently it's vanished thanks to some new regulation,” Bottas confirms. While Cadillac, the 11th F1 entrant, isn't expected to battle for Q2, Bottas expresses optimism about the team's progress. “It’s been hard work, lots of problem solving, but we've already made great progress,” he states. Focus now shifts to building momentum from race one.
Comments (0)