Former Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill called the situation ‘ridiculous’ as one driver was told they would have to serve a grid penalty at the Australian Grand Prix in early March

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Valtteri Bottas will be back on the F1 grid this year with Cadillac(Image: Getty Images)

Former Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill has criticised the “ridiculous” circumstances that mean Valtteri Bottas must serve a penalty when he returns to racing. Following a year away from competition, Bottas will be back on the grid in 2026 after signing with F1 newcomers Cadillac.

Yet his prospects of scoring points straight away will be hindered by a grid penalty he’s required to serve at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March. The sanction stems from his final F1 race, driving for Sauber at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he crashed into Kevin Magnussen – who was also competing in his last race before being dropped by Haas.

Bottas was forced to retire from that race before he could serve a time penalty, resulting in a five-place grid drop for his next Grand Prix appearance. That proved to be the closing event of the 2024 campaign and Bottas, after losing his Sauber drive, spent 2025 working as reserve driver at Mercedes.

The FIA has subsequently amended the sporting regulations so that unserved penalties expire from a driver’s record after 12 months. However, this rule change came into effect after Bottas received his penalty, and the governing body has confirmed they’re powerless to intervene.

An FIA spokesperson clarified: “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 the future.”

This means Bottas will begin his first race for Cadillac five places behind his qualifying position at the Albert Park Circuit, reducing his chances of securing a strong result on debut. In response, 1996 champion Hill expressed his disapproval on his Instagram Story, writing: “How ridiculous.”

The affable 36-year-old Finn is considered an honorary Australian, having been warmly welcomed by the locals. He spends a significant amount of his leisure time Down Under and will be heading south early for another appearance ahead of his inaugural F1 weekend with Cadillac.

Bottas has committed to driving at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival the weekend before the Melbourne event. He is due to take the wheel of a Ferrari 156/85, which competed in the 1985 F1 season. Bottas will drive the chassis that Italian Michele Alboreto raced in that year, and he’s also scheduled to participate in some fan meet-and-greet activities during the multi-day event.

Bottas has had to wait to get behind the wheel of his Cadillac car for the first time. The team did complete a shakedown of their first F1 racing machine at Silverstone last week but, with their mileage limited to just 15km, team-mate Sergio Perez was the only one who got the chance to take it for a spin.

The Mexican said afterwards: “Today was really an amazing day. Everyone should feel incredibly proud to complete our first laps as a team. Each and every person has worked so hard to get to this moment, and it was emotional to be part of motorsport history. We can, and should, all enjoy this, but it absolutely fired me up for more. I just want to get back in and get mileage – this is just the start.”