10/09/2022
NEWS STORY
Esteban Ocon and Kevin Magnussen have received grid penalties after taking on new engine components, bringing the number of drivers affected up to nine.
Ocon takes on a new internal combustion engine (ICE), as does Magnussen, who also takes on a new turbocharger and MGU-H.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, who was already facing a grid drop after taking on a new MGU-K and energy store, will now start from the back of the grid after taking on a new ICE, turbocharger, MGU-H and yet another MGU-K.
He will be joined at the back of the grid by Lewis Hamilton and Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese driver appearing to have hit the jackpot in terms of penalties.
Already hit with a 10-place drop after receiving his fifth reprimand of the season, the Japanese took on another ICE, turbocharger, MGU-H and MGU-K, thereby incurring further grid drops.
Then, in FP2 he was adjudged to have failed to slow under the yellow flags at Turn 5 and hit with another 3-place grid drop.
As it stands, Verstappen and Ocon look set to drop 5 places, while Perez drops 10.
Bottas, Schumacher and Magnussen drop 15, while Sainz, Hamilton and Tsunoda start from the back.
However, while it is entirely possible that there will be further component changes before Sunday's race, there is also every likelihood of drivers being punished for silliness, such as impeding, during this afternoon's qualifying session.