The primary race on the 2026 F1 calendar is over six months away however we already know one of many 22 drivers on the grid could have a penalty.
Cadillac’s announcement yesterday that Valtteri Bottas will return to drive for them means he’ll serve a penalty which was issued throughout his closing race.
Driving for Sauber on the time, Bottas retired after incurring harm in a collision with Kevin Magnussen. The stewards held him liable for the incident, ruling he “misjudged his braking considerably” when the pair made contact at flip six.
Bottas couldn’t serve the penalty on account of his retirement. “As automotive 77 retired from the race, the stewards decide {that a} grid drop is warranted which is the equal of a drive-through penalty,” the stewards dominated, issuing Bottas a five-place grid drop.
Following the affirmation of Bottas’s return to the grid, he’ll have the ability to serve the penalty on the Australian Grand Prix in March subsequent yr. Nonetheless the Mercedes reserve driver might nonetheless serve the penalty earlier than then if he makes an look in a race this yr.
Bottas endured a torrid closing race final yr. His collision with Magnussen adopted an earlier conflict with Sergio Perez – whom Cadillac have introduced as his workforce mate for subsequent season.
Two different drivers have been handed penalties for future races they seem unlikely to serve. Sauber check driver Robert Shwartzman was given a five-place grid drop regardless of not having a race seat, following an incident in follow on the Mexican Grand Prix final yr. He now races in IndyCar.
Jenson Button was issued a three-place grid drop on the Monaco Grand Prix eight years in the past, when he made his closing F1 begin as a one-off substitute for Fernando Alonso. The 2009 world champion races within the World Endurance Championship for Jota.
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a day by day e mail with all our newest tales – and nothing else. No advertising, no adverts. Enroll right here:
Formulation 1
Browse all Formulation 1 articles
