Tsunoda, Stroll get new engines and grid penalties

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Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll are both set to start their Mexico City Grand Prix from the back of the grid on Sunday following engine changes undertaken in the AlphaTauri and Aston Martin teams.

Both Honda and Mercedes have allocated a fourth internal combustion engine, turbocharger and MGU-H and exhaust system to their respective drivers.

Furthermore, Honda has also handed a seventh exhaust element to Sergio Perez, but the change is penalty-free as the Mexican remains within the authorized limit.

Stroll's engine change follows a worrying trend in the Mercedes camp, with reliability concerns forcing the German manufacturer to preemptively introduce new elements into the pool of hardware of several of its drivers.

In Austin, Valtteri Bottas was assigned a sixth ICE, while Sebastian Vettel was also assigned a new unit.

It's unclear if championship contender Lewis Hamilton will be able to conclude his 2021 season without an engine change and a subsequent grid penalty, but the odds appear low.

Read also: Bottas and Hamilton top FP1 for Mercedes in Mexico City

Hamilton has said that he doesn't expect to take on a new PU, but in the opposing camp, Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko is convinced Mercedes will need to assign fresh hardware to its star driver.

“If the races go normally and there are no accidents, we will get through with our engines,” said Marko during an interview with Auto Motor und Sport.

“So far, we have been absolutely reliable with the Honda engine.

“You are never immune to a defect. But the engine situation is certainly more reassuring on the Honda side than on the Mercedes side.

“Our information, our hope, is that Hamilton will have to change again.”

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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.