Bottas grid penalty confirmed

Bottas grid penalty confirmed

Saturday 24 March 2018 13:05

Valtteri Bottas will start the Australian Grand Prix from 15th on the grid after his heavy crash in Saturday's qualifying, Mercedes have confirmed. Bottas smashed into the wall at turn two on his first flying lap in Q3, requiring a change of gearbox.

NEWS: @ValtteriBottas will start Sunday’s #AusGP from P15 on the grid following a gearbox change#DrivenByEachOther @F1 https://t.co/IkjeHfANHO — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) March 24, 2018

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Bottas took too much kerb into the first corner, dipping a wheel on grass which remained damp after a wet-dry FP3 and spinning helplessly into the wall at speed.

It immediately looked likely that the Finn would be taking on new parts with the rear-end of his Silver Arrow largely demolished.

While @LewisHamilton stormed to pole in Melbourne, things didn't quite go to plan for his @MercedesAMGF1 teammate... ???? ????#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/7V8jZapP6b — Formula 1 (@F1) March 24, 2018

Bottas' qualifying ranking of 10th was his worst as a Mercedes driver. Team-mate Lewis Hamilton broke the Albert Park lap record to qualify on pole.

Fernando Alonso, Stoffel Vandoorne, Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon move up a place on the grid thanks to Bottas' penalty.

Having emerged unscathed after a routine medical check-up, Bottas was able to see the light side of the incident.

Decent shunt today ????????????

All good ???????? Thank you boys for getting the car back together for tomorrow! @MercedesAMGF1 #VB77 #AustralianGP pic.twitter.com/oebwmvbM1n — Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) March 24, 2018