F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Giovinazzi hit with 10-place grid penalty in Baku

Antonio Giovinazzi will take a 10-place grid penalty at this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a new control electronics was fitted to his Alfa Romeo's power unit.

Ferrari upgraded its CE element following the failure suffered by Charles Leclerc in Bahrain and which robbed the Scuderia driver of a certain win.

The new spec control electronics was made available to customer teams Haas and Alfa Romeo for China but the Swiss outfit - fearing it would not have enough time to adapt its cabling systems to the new CE - elected not to install the revised component in Shanghai.

Vasseur: Giovinazzi struggles 'completely down to the team'

Unfortunately, a CE failed on Giovinazzi's engine in qualifying, which led to the unit's replacement by an old-spec CE for the race.

However ahead of Baku, back at its base at Hinwil, Alfa Romeo undertook the necessary changes and installed the new CE on the units of both Giovinazzi and Raikkonen.

The upgrade equated to a third CE change for the Italian when only two are allowed for the entire season, thus triggering his 10-spot grid demotion for next Sunday's race.

Raikkonen will not be impacted in Baku by the change, having finished all three races with his original CE unit. But with two CE changes to date the Finn finds himself on the limit, along with his Ferrari and Haas colleagues.

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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.