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Valtteri Bottas will start the 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from the back of the grid this Sunday following a power unit change.
Last time out in Brazil, Bottas retired from the race after smoke started emitting from his engine while he chased the Red Bull of Alexander Albon.
It marked his second retirement of the season and his first retirement with a mechanical failure since the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix.
Mercedes has confirmed that Bottas will receive a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger and MGU-H - meaning a full grid demotion is what awaits the Finn.
The penalty means that Bottas will not be in contention for pole position this weekend. Bottas took pole position in Abu Dhabi in 2017, at the end of his first year with Mercedes.
Bottas will be looking to bounce back after his tough outing in Brazil, while teammate Lewis Hamilton also suffered setbacks, as he was demoted to P7 following a post-race penalty.
In the build-up to the race, team principal of Mercedes Toto Wolff stated that Mercedes 'has a point to prove' following its difficult weekend in Brazil.
NEWS: @ValtteriBottas will take a fresh Power Unit for this weekend’s #AbuDhabiGP
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) November 28, 2019
As a result, he’ll take a penalty and will start from the back of the grid.
Looks like we’ve got some passing to do on Sunday, VB! ? pic.twitter.com/DHG7idmVns
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C. Sainz jr
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Replies (2)
Login to replyJuJuHound
Posts: 352
I would like to see a race where all Ferrari, Mercedes, RBR are starting from the back of the pack. That would be a race. McLarens and Renaults would be running away and being chased by the top teams. A sprint race just checking how would it work.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
An interesting idea I thought of: let them quali as usual, but then give the top 10 drivers time penalties based on how much points they've scored so far.