Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Valtteri Bottas has confirmed he will not serve a five-place grid penalty at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2026 after new regulations effectively removed the sanction carried over from the 2024 season.
The Finnish driver returns to Formula 1 this year with new entrant Cadillac, which begins its debut season as a constructor in the world championship. The race in Melbourne will also mark Bottas’ first grand prix start in roughly 15 months after his last appearance at the end of the 2024 campaign.
Bottas had been expected to take a five-place grid drop following incidents during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2024. In that race he received two time penalties after collisions involving his current team-mate Sergio Perez and Haas driver Kevin Magnussen.
Because Bottas retired from the race at Yas Marina, the penalties could not be fully served during the event. Under the previous sporting regulations, the sanction was converted into a five-place grid penalty to be applied at the next grand prix in which he participated.
However, Bottas revealed that regulatory changes introduced for the 2026 season mean the penalty is no longer applicable.
“It’s great to be back here in Melbourne in the paddock for the first race of the 2026 season.”
“And it gets even better. I have some good news. You know my five-place grid penalty? It’s gone. With the new regulations, it has disappeared. Happy days.”
Meanwhile, the FIA has been asked to provide official clarification regarding the regulatory change that removed the penalty. If fully confirmed, Bottas will begin Cadillac’s inaugural Formula 1 campaign without any grid sanction at the Melbourne season opener.
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Valtteri Bottas will not serve a grid penalty at the F1 Australian Grand Prix 2026 after an FIA regulation change removed the sanction from 2024.
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