Bottas hit with five-place grid penalty for Las Vegas Grand Prix

Kick Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas has been hit with a five-place grid drop for the Las Vegas Grand Prix after the team exceeded the limit of power unit components by introducing a new energy store.

Each competitor is permitted two energy stores per season, but this will be the Finn's fourth, breaching the FIA Sporting Regulations.

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With Sauber still targeting their first points finish of the season, the penalty will leave Bottas with even more work to do if he hopes to cross the line in the top 10 in Saturday night's 50-lap race.

The news follows the Swiss team's recent announcement that both Bottas and his team mate Zhou Guanyu will depart after the final triple header, making way for Nico Hulkenberg and rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto.

A document published by the FIA confirmed: "The energy store used by Valtteri Bottas is the fourth (4th) of the two (2) new energy stores allowed for the 2024 Championship season and this is not in conformity with Article 28.2 of the 2024 Formula One Sporting Regulations."

READ MORE: What does the future hold for Bottas and Zhou as Kick Sauber sign Bortoleto?

The stewards added that Sergio Perez, Alex Albon and the RB pair of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have all brought a new exhaust system to the Las Vegas Strip, but they are still within the permitted allocation of eight.

Sauber have also put a new upgrades package in place for this weekend, which could go some way in helping them to get on top of their pace struggles and giving Bottas a chance to fight his way back through the field following his penalty.

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