New engine and strategic penalty for Bottas in Sochi

Although it has stopped raining in Sochi, the engine penalties continue to fall. While three drivers will already be demoted to the starting grid for the Russian Grand Prix race this Sunday, a fourth has been added to the list in the person of Valtteri Bottas.

The Finn, qualified seventh the day before, had already had to start from the back of the grid during the previous round at Monza.

This new penalty on Russian soil thus seems more strategic than mechanical, with the aim of slowing down the rise in Max Verstappen towards the top of the ranking while Lewis Hamilton, his rival for the championship, will start from fourth position.

Saturday night, Toto wolff, the boss of the stable Mercedes, also mentioned “a tactical decision ahead for Bottas’ race”.

Also read > Hamilton and Mercedes miss the mark in Sochi