Australian Grand Prix: Why Valtteri Bottas won't be hit with 15-month-old penalty
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Valtteri Bottas will avoid a five-place grid penalty at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix due to a recent update in Formula 1 regulations that nullifies unserved penalties older than 12 months.
- The penalty stemmed from a collision with Sergio Pérez at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which was Bottas' last race before sitting out the 2025 season.
- Both Bottas and Pérez have joined the new Cadillac F1 team, making their debut in Melbourne with Ferrari engines, marking Cadillac's entry as the 11th team on the grid.
- Cadillac is expected to compete near the back of the pack, likely battling Aston Martin to avoid finishing last in the constructors' standings.
