Two weeks after adopting a completely new power unit in Belgium, Red Bull decided to add a new thermal unit to Max Verstappen’s engine fleet, incurring a five-place penalty for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.
Monza is considered a privileged opportunity to introduce new power units and serve a penalty on the grid, as its long straights should make it much easier to move up to the standings than the upcoming races in Singapore and Japan. Therefore, Verstappen will add a fresh fifth engine and suffer a minimal penalty.
As widely expected, Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez also installed a new V6 engine. As this is the first time Perez has exceeded the three thermal unit limit, he will suffer a penalty of 10 grid positions. Perez also fitted his fourth gearbox, while remaining within the regulatory limits.
It was also revealed on Friday that Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz will pick up a new energy accumulator, an MGU-K and a gearbox, all of which combined will cost him 20 positions on the grid. In recent races, however, Ferrari has staggered its engine-related penalties and so Sainz’s penalty could be converted into a start at the bottom of the grid if the Prancing Horse’s men choose to substitute other parts.
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
In any case, Sainz will be joined in the rear by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who has adopted the fourth power unit of the season, as announced on Thursday.
Yuki Tsunoda will also start from the bottom of the grid. The AlphaTauri driver was given a 10-place penalty on the grid for receiving his fifth reprimand of the season at Zandvoort last week, where he was penalized for driving to the pits with loose belts after stopping on the track.
Since Tsunoda still took a penalty, AlphaTauri took the opportunity to provide him with a new power unit.
Finally, Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas will also drop 15 positions on the grid for having taken a new thermal engine, a turbocharger and an MGU-H from the Ferrari power unit.
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