FIA clarify looming Valtteri Bottas grid penalty after signing with Cadillac

The five-place grid penalty issued to Valtteri Bottas at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will stand, the FIA has confirmed to RacingNews365.

Bottas was found guilty of causing a collision with Kevin Magnussen midway through the race at the Yas Marina Circuit and retired from the event as a result. Therefore, instead of receiving a time penalty, he was handed a five-place grid drop.

Since the incident occurred during the final race before the Finnish driver lost his seat at Stake, he has yet to serve the penalty. As a result, it will carry over to the next grand prix in which he competes.

The 35-year-old is expected to be announced as a Cadillac driver soon, after RacingNews365 and Formula.hu broke news of his signing.

However, a recent amendment to the FIA's sporting regulations initially appeared to offer him a reprieve.

Under the new rule, grid penalties must be served within 12 months of being issued. This means Bottas’ penalty would expire on 9 December 2025.

It was therefore anticipated that the current Mercedes reserve driver might have his penalty voided before joining the American squad - unless he is called upon to substitute for either George Russell or Kimi Antonelli before the end of the season.

However, the FIA has clarified that this will not be the case.

An FIA spokesperson told RacingNews365: "Currently, the penalty will stand, as there is no mechanism to retroactively amend the penalty that was applied under the regulations in force at the time.

"The change of regulation is intended to avoid similar anomalous situations in future."

Unless further changes are made before Bottas makes his Cadillac debut, he will start the 2026 season-opening Australian Grand Prix serving a penalty imposed nearly 15 months earlier.