Bottas gets engine, gearbox changes for Australian GP
Mercedes has opted to fit Valtteri Bottas' car with two new power unit components and a new gearbox ahead of Sunday's Formula 1 season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia.
Bottas crashed hard during his first flying lap in Q3, spinning off at Turn 1 after touching the grass before hitting the wall with the rear of his car at force.
Mercedes confirmed on Saturday night it would be changing the gearbox on Bottas' car, triggering a five-place grid penalty, but the team has also opted to fit the W09 Hybrid with a new control electronics and energy store.
Mercedes has opted to fit Valtteri Bottas' car with two new power unit components and a new gearbox ahead of Sunday's Formula 1 season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia.
Bottas crashed hard during his first flying lap in Q3, spinning off at Turn 1 after touching the grass before hitting the wall with the rear of his car at force.
Mercedes confirmed on Saturday night it would be changing the gearbox on Bottas' car, triggering a five-place grid penalty, but the team has also opted to fit the W09 Hybrid with a new control electronics and energy store.
FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer confirmed both parts are within Mercedes' allocation for the season, meaning there is no further penalty.
Asked if the first set of control electronics and energy store had been damaged, Mercedes stressed it was a "precautionary change" as it "wanted to run some checks on it back in the UK to make sure it really wasn't damaged."
"If those checks don't show any issues, we'll use it again," a team spokesperson added.
Bottas will start today's Australian Grand Prix from P15 on the grid.
