Valtteri Bottas is making his Formula 1 comeback this weekend on behalf of Cadillac. After a year on the sidelines at Mercedes, the cheerful Finn returns to the grid. Between 2022 and 2024, he drove his final three seasons for Sauber. During Bottas’ final race for the Swiss team, he received a grid penalty following an incident with Kevin Magnussen. However, he does not have to serve that penalty upon his return.
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During the season finale in Abu Dhabi – also Bottas‘ last appearance for Sauber – he collided with the Haas driver in turn six. The stewards imposed three penalty points and a five-place grid penalty for the next race. “Bottas seriously misjudged his braking maneuver and collided with Magnussen,” the official report stated. “Magnussen was on the normal racing line.” Because Bottas retired after the incident, a time penalty could no longer be imposed. The stewards therefore deemed a grid penalty appropriate.
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Since Bottas did not have a race seat in 2025, the sanction initially remained hanging over him. It was expected that he would still be moved back five places on the starting grid during his comeback with Cadillac in Melbourne. However, recent regulatory changes provide a solution: such a grid penalty automatically expires after twelve months, also retroactively. Good news for Bottas, who will want to make a strong impression at his new employer immediately after a year on the sidelines.
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