Add Vandoorne to the grid penalty list!

©McLaren

Any hopes Stoffel Vandoorne may have had of achieving at Monza his second top-ten finish of the year have likely been scrapped thanks to a 25-place grid penalty.

The Belgian was all set to start P8 this afternoon after reaching Q3 in yesterday's delayed and disrupted qualifying session.

But a loss of power late in the day and a subsequent analysis by Honda has forced a power unit change on the McLaren driver and hefty grid drop.

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Vandoorne takes on a seventh Internal Combustion Engine, seventh MGU-K, 10th MGU-H and 10th Turbocharger.

"After the issue we had with Stoffel's PU during yesterday's Q3 session, the decisions was made to replace his PU this morning," said a Honda.

"The problem was with the MGU-K shaft.

"Although it is possible to replace the MGU-K shaft without having penalties, due to parc ferme conditions we judged we would not have enough time to do so."

Honda also confirmed that Vandoorne's replacement PU will be a 'Spec 3.7' unit.

Vandoorne should be demoted to P18 on this afternoon's grid, where he'll line up just in front of team mate Fernando Alonso.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.