Honda imposes 'tactical' engine change on Hartley

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Toro Rosso's Brendon Hartley will take on another Honda power unit - his fifth so far this season - for this afternoon's Austrian Grand Prix.

The Kiwi has well exceeded his three-unit allocation limit, so he will therefore start his race from dead last on the grid, after qualifying 19th.

Honda revealed on social media that the change was a tactical one given Hartley's tail-end qualifying performance.

"We are changing all the components on Brendon’s car prior to the race," Honda said;

"This is for tactical reasons, given that he qualified on the back row. There were no technical issues with the [power unit] on Saturday."

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It's been a difficult weekend so far for Hartley, the 28-year-old failing to make the Q2 cut on Saturday and damaging another new-spec front wing on his Toro Rosso, which in turn forced him to revert to the team's older front wing.

"I damaged my front wing in FP3 which meant I ran the old wing in Qualifying," explained the Kiwi.

"t was a decision made right before the session because of lack of spare parts, so I ran a bit of a hybrid between specs, of course it was not ideal.

"Today Pierre did a better job and the new front wing would not have given me 3 tenths but may have helped to squeeze through to Q2.

"My last lap wasn’t particularly clean and I got too close to the car in front trying to get a slipstream.

"The midfield is very tight and 1 tenth faster would have got me through to Q2. I am disappointed with P19 but will fight in tomorrow."

Gasly qualified his STR13 in 12th position, just behind Esteban Ocon's Force India.

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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.