Italian Grand Prix

Bottas to start from back of Italian GP grid after Mercedes PU change

Ewan Gale Friday 10 September 2021 18:45

Bottas to start from back of Italian GP grid after Mercedes PU change

Valtteri Bottas will start the Italian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Mercedes introduced multiple new elements to his power unit.

Mercedes has elected to change the internal combustion engine, turbo charger, MGU-H and MGU-K on the Finn's W12.

As each component is the fourth of the season for Bottas, each will bring a separate penalty and those combined will force him to the back of the field.

F1 is trialling its sprint format for the second time this season, with the grid being set during a mini race on Saturday.

Bottas will therefore remain in the same position as he qualifies to start the 100km sprint on Saturday, but will drop to the back of the grid for the grand prix proper on Sunday.

Team principal Toto Wolff had suggested the team was thinking of making the move to change engine components with the relative ease of overtaking at Monza.

After free practice, Wolff told Sky Sports F1: "We are all struggling on power units, and maybe not only reliability but how much these power units work, how much they are really degrading.

"There are thoughts definitely for the weekend but we haven't come to a conclusion yet."

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Bottas to start from back of Italian GP grid after Mercedes PU change

Bottas to start from back of Italian GP grid after Mercedes PU change