F1 star told he must serve penalty at first 2026 race as Damon Hill calls it 'ridiculous'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 MarchView Image 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.

Source: Daily Mirror January 21, 2026 14:41 UTC