Valtteri Bottas’s grid penalty for the Australian Grand Prix has been cancelled due to a late rules change.
The Cadillac driver, who is returning to Formula 1 after a year away, was due to serve a five-place grid penalty for colliding with Kevin Magnussen during his last appearance at the end of 2024.
Under the rules at the time, Bottas’s penalty would have carried over to whenever his next grand prix start might occur. The FIA introduced a new rule last year stating penalties would be served “at the driver’s next sprint [race] or [grand prix] in which the driver participates in the subsequent 12 month period.” However as Bottas’s penalty had already been issued, this did not apply.
The FIA has now changed its rules again and has this time done so in a way which will prevent Bottas’s penalty from applying. The regulations on the formation of the grid now state the only penalties which will take effect are those “imposed in the previous 12 months.”
“Apparently it’s vanished,” said Bottas when asked about his penalty in Melbourne. “Thanks to some new regulation, no grid penalty.”
The new regulation could affect two other drivers. Robert Shwartzman received a five-place grid penalty for overtaking under double yellow flags in practice for the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix. However Shwartzman has never started a grand prix. Should he ever do so, the new rule means his penalty will not apply.
Less realistically, Jenson Button still has an unserved three-place grid penalty from his final appearance in Monaco nine years ago. However if the 2009 world champion was to return he would be the oldest driver on the grid.
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Published by
Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 – when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring journalist, Keith began running the site full-time in 2010, achieving a long-held ambition to dedicate his full attention to his passion for motor racing. View all posts by Keith Collantine