Sochi (Russia) (AFP)
Finland's Valtteri Bottas will start the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix in 17th position on Sunday, penalized for a strategic engine change intended to help his teammate Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes announced.
Bottas inherited a new engine in the previous round and already received a penalty.
This change is therefore a "tactical opportunity", explains the team.
He will make him start in 17th position on the grid, rather than the 7th in which he qualified, closer to the leader of the world championship Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 20th and last because penalized for having also changed. engine.
Bottas will thus be able to slow down the Dutchman in his progress towards the front of the race and leave the field open to the Briton Hamilton, fourth on the starting grid and just five lengths behind Verstappen in the drivers' standings.
Departure is scheduled at 3:00 p.m. local (2:00 p.m. French / 12:00 p.m. GMT).
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