Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas has been handed a five-place grid penalty as a result of an unscheduled gearbox change ahead of the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.
By regulation, an F1 gearbox has to complete six consecutive races before being changed. The team is yet to disclose the full details necessitating the early switch, however, with this weekend’s race being the sixth and final scheduled race for the unit, fatigue could be a factor.
Bottas finished fifth in FP1 on Friday morning in Japan, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton ending the morning in second place. With FP2 having been a wash-out, the first session presented the only representative timesheet.Mercedes appears to have avoided a repeat of their balance issues that hindered their pace at the Malaysia Grand Prix last week.
Mercedes appears to have avoided a repeat of their balance issues that hindered their pace at the Malaysia Grand Prix last week.
Bottas’ penalty comes during a downturn in form described by the Finn as the “worst time of his career.” He has fallen out of championship contention and has not once finished ahead of Hamilton in the four races since the summer break.
Bottas was last issued a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change ahead of the British Grand Prix in July. On that occasion, he managed to recover to second place on Sunday to round out a Mercedes 1-2.
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