Bottas set for sixth ICE and five-spot grid drop at US GP!

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Friday's pacesetter Valtteri Bottas enjoyed a good start to his US GP weekend, but the Finn is facing a minimum five-spot grid drop in Austin – his third grid penalty in four races – following another engine change in the Mercedes camp.

The German manufacturer is adding new units left and right to mitigate reliability issues, with Bottas taking on a sixth ICE element at the US Grand Prix, while Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel and Williams' George Russell were also handed fresh Mercedes hardware at the Circuit of the Americas.

The changes don't bode well for Lewis Hamilton whose odds of suffering another grid drop before the end of the season appear to be increasing.

Contrary to Sochi, where Bottas was the recipient of a complete new power unit, Mercedes has added only an Internal Combustion Engine to the Finn's engine inventory.

Read also: Russell takes new engine for US GP, and a grid penalty

In Turkey, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff opened up about the Brackley team's PU troubles, revealing that replacements were undertaken to "contain the problem" and to avoid a costly DNF with regard to Hamilton.

According to the FIA's latest communication, both Vettel and Russell have received fresh Turbochargers and MGU-H elements, which entails back of the grid starts on Sunday for both drivers.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.