Valtteri Bottas to start from back of grid at Mexico City Grand Prix
The Cadillac driver faces a 50-place penalty after the team fitted five new power unit components to his car.
Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas will start at the rear of the field for Sunday's race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, according to Mint. The driver faces a 50-place grid penalty following the introduction of several new power unit parts on his Ferrari-powered car.
The team fitted five new components to the car, including a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger, energy store, control electronics unit, and motor generator unit–kinetic. These represent the first time Bottas has exceeded his seasonal allocation for these specific parts in 2026.
Under Formula 1 regulations, exceeding the limit for a component results in a 10-place penalty, with subsequent uses adding five places. Because the total penalty exceeded 15 places, the sanction converts to a mandatory start from the back of the grid for the 22-car field.
The stewards ordered a drop of 50 grid positions for the next race in which the driver participates. An FIA document confirmed that, provided Car 77 is classified in qualifying, the driver will be allocated a grid position in accordance with regulations.
During qualifying, Bottas finished 22nd with a 1:19.852 lap, while teammate Sergio Perez qualified 21st. Lewis Hamilton took pole position for Ferrari.
Both Cadillac drivers reported feeling unwell during the weekend, with Bottas missing Thursday media duties due to illness. Perez also arrived late to the track on Friday after feeling unwell.