Valtteri Bottas has been summoned to the FIA stewards following an incident during the opening practice session of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, putting the Cadillac driver under scrutiny before the weekend has properly got underway. Bottas is being investigated for an alleged infringement involving yellow flags at the Baku City Circuit. The summons was issued after a chaotic FP1 session in which several drivers encountered problems around the demanding street circuit.
The Finnish veteran was classified 22nd at the end of the session, completing 22 laps as teams worked to understand their cars around Baku’s tight and unforgiving layout. George Russell topped the session for Mercedes, while Bottas struggled for outright pace, finishing almost two seconds behind Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin. However, his performance was quickly overshadowed by the stewards’ decision to investigate an alleged yellow-flag breach.
According to the FIA process, Bottas and a representative from Cadillac have been summoned to explain the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident. The hearing is scheduled for 13:50 local time in Baku. At this stage, the investigation does not automatically mean that Bottas will receive a sporting penalty, as the stewards will consider the available timing data, video evidence and other relevant information before reaching a decision.
The investigation comes during a particularly eventful opening session. Kimi Antonelli was forced to stop his Mercedes after reporting a hydraulic problem, Isack Hadjar brought his session to an early conclusion after reporting a suspected engine problem, while Carlos Sainz suffered a brake fire in the pit lane. Several other drivers also complained about unusual behaviour from their cars under braking, adding to the difficult conditions faced by the field.
For Bottas, the outcome of the hearing will now become an important early development in his Azerbaijan weekend. The 37-year-old has already had contact with the FIA stewards this season, including receiving a warning at the Spanish Grand Prix for failing to follow race-director instructions. Any decision in Baku will depend on the specific evidence surrounding Thursday’s incident, with the stewards expected to announce their verdict after hearing from Bottas and Cadillac.
