Valtteri Bottas will start Formula 1’s Italian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after a tactical engine change from Mercedes.
Bottas took a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H, MGU-K and exhaust system for Friday’s qualifying session at Monza.
As he has already used his seasonal allocation of the ICE, turbo and MGU-H, he will have to start the Italian GP from the back of the grid.
This weekend is one of the three F1 Sprint format trials and engine penalties are applied for the grand prix itself, not Saturday’s sprint race that sets the grid.
It means Bottas will be allowed to start the sprint race where he qualifies – which could be on the front row – and therefore fight for one of the three points-paying positions.
He will then aim to recover through the field in Sunday’s grand prix, with Mercedes looking like it has the fastest car at Monza.
This is a strategic move from Mercedes to avoid a grid penalty for Bottas later in the season at what it expects would be a more damaging track.
