Why Valtteri Bottas is set to avoid grid penalty on potential return to F1 with Cadillac

Bottas' F1 return starts with a grid drop — and it could follow him to Cadillac in 2026

Valtteri Bottas hasn’t turned a lap in 2025, yet he’s already carrying a grid drop into his comeback — and it’ll follow him to Cadillac if that long-rumoured deal lands for 2026. The five-place penalty dates back to the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where the then-Sauber driver clattered into Kevin Magnussen at Turn 6 after a sizeable braking misjudge. The stewards handed Bottas a five-place drop for his next F1 start plus three licence points, not…

Bottas still faces F1 comeback grid drop despite rule change

Valtteri Bottas still faces a five-place grid penalty on his expected Formula 1 return next year, despite a change in the regulations over the winter that now times out similar sanctions.The Finn was awarded the punishment at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix following a collision with Kevin Magnussen.The ruling laid down by the stewards was for a "drop of five grid positions for the next race in which the driver participates".LAP 31/58 Huge lock…

Why Valtteri Bottas is set to avoid grid penalty on potential return to F1 with Cadillac

Valtteri Bottas is unlikely to serve the five-place grid penalty he received at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP, following a recent change to the F1 sporting regulations. The post Why Valtteri Bottas is set to avoid grid penalty on potential return to F1 with Cadillac appeared first on Motorsport Week.