Valtteri Bottas will be handed a grid penalty for the Italian Grand Prix after Mercedes opted to change his power unit ahead of qualifying. Drivers are allowed to use three power units per season before being handed a penalty, as per F1's current regulations , but the change means the Finn is now on his fourth of the season. Bottas has taken on new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), Turbocharger, MGU-H and MGU-K elements, having used three of each in 2021 to date. When asked by RacingNews365.com for the reason behind the change, a Mercedes spokesperson described it as a "strategic" move. Potential engine penalties were discussed following FP1 at Monza, with team boss Toto Wolff admitting that Mercedes were weighing up whether to take a fourth engine this weekend and trigger a grid penalty at a track where they may be able to recover ground more easily. Those discussions turned into a firm decision prior to qualifying, with Bottas now certain of a grid penalty.
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