X (Twitter)X (Twitter)
FacebookFacebook
WhatsappWhatsapp

Valtteri Bottas will start the Australian Grand Prix from 16th place after receiving a gearbox penalty.

Bottas failed to maximise the potential of his Williams during Saturday's qualifying session and was knocked out in 11th place, five spots behind team-mate Felipe Massa. That result has now been compounded by the need for a gearbox change, which demotes Bottas another five places.

With the Williams now starting from 16th place, Fernando Alonso moves up to 11th place while Jenson Button, Jolyon Palmer, Kevin Magnussen and Marcus Ericsson also all gain a spot.

It has been a bad 24 hours for Williams as the team has also been handed a reprimand for failing to "submit complete suspension set-up sheets for car 77 [Bottas] before the car left the pit lane for the first time in qualifying".

Williams was only reprimanded as: "The team made reasonable efforts to provide the sheet but due to a change in team document format failed to provide all required information by the deadline."

As it happened: Qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix

F1i's Australian Grand Prix preview

2016 F1 season: Team-by-team preview

Eric Silbermann

Recent Posts

Ferrari shakes down SF-25 war horse at Fiorano

Just 24 hours after unveiling its 2025 livery at F1’s spectacular season launch event in…

1 hour ago

F1 75: A recap in pictures of Formula 1’s season launch

Formula 1 launched its 2025 season and 75th anniversary in style at London’s O2 Arena…

2 hours ago

Unveiled: Formula 1's ten teams show off their 2025 liveries

. Under the O2's spotlights and amid the glitz, the covers were lifted to reveal…

13 hours ago

Sargeant ‘stepping away’ from racing, exits ELMS programme

Former Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant has officially withdrawn from his European Le Mans Series…

16 hours ago

FIA shakes up Monaco GP, imposes extra mandatory pitstops

The FIA has taken decisive action to inject more excitement into the traditionally processional Monaco…

18 hours ago

Russell draws a line under Verstappen feud, focused on winning

George Russell is ready to put his past differences with Max Verstappen behind him as…

20 hours ago