F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Perez and Zhou hit with grid drops after engine changes

Red Bull and Alfa Romeo have opted to introduce fresh engines in Austin for Sergio Perez and Zhou Guanyu that will set both drivers back by five spots on Sunday's US Grand Prix grid.

Both drivers were the recipient of a fifth internal combustion engine (ICE) this season.

The changes won't help Perez' chances of fending off Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in the Drivers' standings, with the pair battling for the runner-up spot behind freshly crowned F1 world champion Max Verstappen.

But it also won't strengthen Red Bull's chances of clinching the Constructors' title, although the Milton Keynes-based outfit still hold a nearly unbeatable lead of 165 points over Ferrari.

The Mexican is current one point ahead of his Ferrari rival with four races to go this season.

Zhou's allocation of fresh power will hopefully boost Alfa Romeo's chances of returning among the top-ten, a position the Swiss outfit has enjoyed only once in the last nine races.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Mekies: ‘We all agree’ F1 must bring back flat-out qualifying

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has made it clear: Formula 1 must rediscover the…

9 minutes ago

‘Rusty, me?’: Perez fires back at Andretti’s Cadillac claim

Sergio Perez isn’t taking lightly the suggestion that his return to Formula 1 with Cadillac…

18 hours ago

Formula 1’s heartfelt gift to new dad Fernando Alonso

While Aston Martin’s F1 car is currently giving Fernando Alonso some massive engine vibrations and…

19 hours ago

Hill says unhappy Verstappen ‘should stop and do something else’

For a driver who has spent years bending F1 to his will, Max Verstappen suddenly…

20 hours ago

‘He’s up against it’: Brundle fears Sainz facing career dead end in F1

For Carlos Sainz, what was meant to be a strong second season at Williams is…

22 hours ago

Alonso’s brutal verdict: ‘High-speed corners now charging stations’

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has delivered another withering verdict on Formula 1’s 2026 regulations…

23 hours ago