Valtteri Bottas will start the Australian Grand Prix penalty-free. The Cadillac driver, returning to Formula 1 after a year away, was set to serve a five-place grid penalty for a collision with Kevin Magnussen during his last appearance at the end of the 2024 season. However, the FIA implemented a new rule: only penalties imposed in the previous 12 months now take effect. Bottas’s incident falls outside this window, effectively nullifying the carry-over sanction.
This late rules adjustment means Bottas can now maximize his potential without an immediate grid disadvantage. He confirmed the penalty had "vanished," thanks to the new regulation. The change could also benefit drivers like Robert Shwartzman, who still holds an unserved five-place grid penalty from the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix but has yet to start a race. For Haas fans, a penalty-free Bottas means a clearer fight for track position in the midfield, potentially impacting American interests as the season kicks off.
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