Valtteri Bottas set for 50-place grid penalty at Mexico City Grand Prix after multiple power unit changes

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Valtteri Bottas is set to receive a major grid penalty for the Mexico City Grand Prix after Cadillac installed multiple new power unit components on his car at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

According to the power unit changes listed by F1’s governing body, Cadillac—powered by Ferrari engines—has fitted a new internal combustion engine (ICE), turbocharger (TC), energy store (ES), control electronics unit (PU-CE) and motor generator unit–kinetic (MGU-K) to Bottas’ car, identified as Car 77, for this weekend’s race.

The FIA F1 regulations apply a stepped grid-drop system when allocation limits for power unit elements are exceeded. When a driver’s first allocation breach occurs for a given component, a 10-place grid penalty is applied; each subsequent exceedance adds another five-place grid drop. All penalties at the same event are applied cumulatively.

F1’s document also outlines a maximum consequence for larger penalties: if a driver incurs a penalty exceeding 15 grid places, the driver is required to start the race from the back of the field.

Because all five of Bottas’ new elements are first-time breaches for the 2026 season, the expected outcome is a cumulative official drop of 50 places at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

F1 further specified the allocation mechanism pending qualifying classification. “Subject to Car 77 being classified in the results of Qualifying, Car 77 will be allocated a grid position in the race in accordance with Article B2.5.4b.iv of the FIA F1 Regulations,” the governing body document stated.

The changes follow a disruption to the scheduled media routine in Mexico. Bottas missed Thursday’s media duties due to illness, and teammate and home hero Sergio Perez also reported feeling unwell, arriving late to the track on Friday.

Despite those setbacks, both drivers are participating in practice as planned. The team’s young driver requirement was met with American Colton Herta driving Bottas’ Cadillac in Free Practice 1 on Friday, while the Finn remained in the car program from there.

Looking ahead, the Finn’s contract status remains unresolved beyond this season. The source notes Bottas has not yet been confirmed with the team for 2027, even as Perez has announced his future with Cadillac until 2029.