Bottas faces five-place grid penalty

A team spokesperson confirmed the likely sanction late Friday after a dominant Bottas had excelled during practice at Silverstone.

The Finn, who won last Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix, will be unable to claim pole position if he is fastest again in qualifying on Saturday.

Valtteri Bottas, who was fastest in both of Friday's opening practice sessions, is set to be handed a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's British Grand Prix after an unscheduled gearbox change.

The Finn, who won last Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix after Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton received a five-place penalty for the same offence, will be unable to claim pole position if he is fastest again in qualifying on Saturday.

A team spokesperson confirmed the likely sanction late Friday after a dominant Bottas had excelled during practice at Silverstone.

The race stewards are expected to confirm all grid penalties later Saturday.

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso is likely to be confirmed as starting from the back of the grid in his McLaren as the team plans to fit a new engine.