Bottas close to engine penalties!

Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas has taken a new engine to put him on the edge of receiving penalties as we approach just the halfway point of the season.

Bottas’ most recent power unit has been sent back to the factory for assessment after the hydraulic failure that caused his retirement from P2 in the last race in Austria.

Despite the hydraulics issue not being linked to the engine, the team want to inspect it for any damage that may have been cause due to the extreme heat caused when a car is forced to stop on the track.

Bottas will avoid any penalties for the race at Silverstone unless he has to take any new parts, but grid penalties are more than likely to be handed out to the Finn in the near future.

The plan is to return to the previous engine for the next race in Germany, as confirmed by a Mercedes spokesperson.

“Valtteri will take a third PU this weekend. This is a precaution after we suffered high temps on his second PU from heat soak following the retirement in Austria,” the spokesperson said.