Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix , Valtteri Bottas fitted a new engine, turbocharger, MGU-H, MGU-K and electronic control unit before the first practice sessions at the Red Bull Ring on Friday, prompting a penalty that will start from the back of the F1 grid.
With those elements, Bottas exceeded the limit established by the FIA for the season, which implies an automatic penalty on the grid on Sunday. Thus, Bottas will start Saturday’s sprint race from where he finished qualifying on Friday night in Austria, but will sit at the back of the grid for Sunday’s grand prix.
That same process was used to drop the Finn to the back of the pack at last year ‘s Italian Grand Prix , and marks yet another setback for the driver, after the gearbox problem forced him out of the Italian Grand Prix. Brittany at Silverstone last weekend, signing his second DNF of the season.
Bottas currently sits eighth in the drivers’ standings, having scored 46 of Alfa Romeo ‘s 51 points in 2022.
Speaking at the FIA press conference for Thursday’s Austrian GP, Bottas said Alfa Romeo’s recurring reliability problems are “not pleasant” and “greatly worry the team”. “It’s not always just one problem,” Bottas said. “It’s a few things here and there and they keep happening differently. So that hasn’t allowed us to score any points.”
As well as the Bottas changes, Lando Norris has fitted a new engine, turbocharger, MGU-H and MGU-K to his McLaren. However, he will not receive any penalty, since he stays within the limit for each of those elements.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has fitted his second energy storage system, while Bottas’ Alfa Romeo teammate Zhou Guanyu has a new electronic control unit for this weekend.
