Valtteri Bottas has been handed a three-place grid penalty for dangerous driving after spinning in the pit lane during practice in Austria.
Bottas spun as he left Mercedes’ pit box in Friday’s second practice session for the Styrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
Bottas came to a stop in front of the McLaren garage.
Stewards summoned Bottas for a hearing and determined him to be guilty of dangerous driving.
A report revealed that Bottas had been evaluating a different way of leaving Mercedes’ pit box.
Bottas stated that “in the past they [Mercedes] have been losing time in the pit departure.”
Stewards outlined that he “tried something new, which was to leave in second gear. As a result, the wheel spin was much higher and the result unexpected.”
It was deemed that Bottas “didn’t manage to control the car properly” and “this has to be considered as potentially dangerous driving, especially as personnel were around in the pit lane.”
Bottas has also been issued with two penalty points on his license.
Bottas has taken pole position at the Red Bull Ring on three occasions, having led the way during qualifying in 2017, 2018 and 2020.
