Bottas Faces Grid Penalty Ahead of Vegas Grand Prix

Valtteri Bottas of Sauber has been slapped with a five-place grid penalty ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix for breaching Article 28.3 of the FIA Sporting Regulations. The penalty stems from the team's decision to install a new energy store component on his car, marking the fourth such component used this season, surpassing the permitted limit of three.

Sauber is optimistic that recent upgrades, which include a new floor and diffuser, might give Bottas the edge needed to improve his performance during the race. However, with no points scored by Bottas and teammate Zhou Guanyu so far this season, the grid penalty complicates their chances of breaking into the top 10 in the 50-lap event, making their goal even more challenging.