Valtteri Bottas is set to drop to 17th on the grid after taking on fresh Mercedes power unit components for Formula 1’s Russian Grand Prix.
Bottas qualified in seventh position in the wet/dry session at Sochi Autodrom on Saturday but Mercedes has elected to fit fresh components.
It is the second successive event at which Bottas has taken a back-of-the-grid penalty due to taking on new components.
Bottas joins Nicholas Latifi, Charles Leclerc and title leader Max Verstappen at the rear of the pack but is set to start in front of the trio on account of his better qualifying position.
Mercedes described it as a “tactical opportunity to put another power unit in the pool.”
Bottas has twice taken victory at Sochi Autodrom, in 2017 and 2020 respectively, with Mercedes yet to be beaten at the venue.
Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton is due to start from fourth place.
McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz will share the front row of the grid.
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