News Summary

Valtteri Bottas has asked Cadillac to examine an unusual braking problem that preceded his late crash in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Finn went into the barrier at Turn 15 after running wide at Turn 1 earlier on the same lap. He believes the extra distance travelled during his return to the circuit may have affected the car’s systems, but Cadillac has yet to establish the cause.

Bottas said he experienced a “huge super clip” approaching Turn 15, a sharp reduction in available electrical power. When he braked, he felt that the front brakes were working but that the rear axle was no longer recovering energy as expected. “It felt like I lost the rear brakes,” he said. That describes what he felt in the cockpit; it is not a confirmed diagnosis of a brake failure.

The Cadillac driver had been heading towards the finish after a difficult race in which he said the team lacked pace. His crash brought out yellow flags as George Russell and Max Verstappen began the final lap. Russell slowed for the caution and ultimately held off Verstappen at the line.

Budkowski confirmed that Cadillac would examine Bottas’s car and the data from the incident. “We will need to investigate that technical issue and get on top of it,” the team principal said. The investigation should clarify whether the earlier excursion, the energy recovery system or another factor caused the behaviour Bottas reported.

Sergio Pérez finished the race for Cadillac, while Bottas was classified as a retirement. Formula 1 returns from 2–4 October for the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, giving the team a short interval to analyse the Baku incident before the next race.

F1 today: FAQ

When is the next F1 race after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia takes place at Sepang on Sunday, 4 October 2026. The race starts at 08:00 BST, 03:00 US Eastern time and 15:00 in Malaysia.

Who leads the 2026 F1 championship after Baku?

Kimi Antonelli leads with 302 points, 66 ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell, who has 236. Russell reduced the gap by 15 points with his Azerbaijan GP victory.

What penalty will Franco Colapinto serve at the next F1 race?

Colapinto has a five-place grid penalty for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia after causing the Baku collision involving Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris.

What caused Valtteri Bottas’s crash in Baku?

The cause has not been confirmed. Bottas reported unexpected braking behaviour at Turn 15, and Cadillac is investigating it.