F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Sainz handed grid penalty after Ferrari engine change

Carlos Sainz will suffer a five-place grid demotion for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix, regardless of where he finishes Saturday's Sprint event, due to Ferrari's decision to change the Spaniard's ICE.

According to the FIA's power unit elements update bulletin, the Scuderia has opted to add a new internal combustion engine to Sainz's pool of hardware.

In accordance with the regulations, the change carries a five-place grid penalty that will be applied to Sunday's race.

Sainz's F1-75 has also received a new exhaust system, as have the Alfa Romeo cars of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu. However, no penalties are associated with the changes.

Ferrari, which underperformed relative to its rivals in Mexico City last time out, is looking to hold its runner-up spot in the championship against Mercedes.

But Sainz's grid penalty, depending on where he finishes Saturday's Sprint race, could weigh on the Scuderia's ambitions at Interlagos.

So far, there have been no other power unit changes reported by the teams or the FIA.

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

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Ten years on: Marko reveals Horner resisted Verstappen promotion

Helmut Marko has revealed that Max Verstappen’s in-season promotion from Toro Rosso to Red Bull…

1 hour ago

Schumacher and Irvine paint the town red in Monaco

On this day in 1999 in Monaco, a dominant Michael Schumacher secured his 35th career…

2 hours ago

Rosenqvist finds 233 mph magic at Indy on Fast Friday

Sometimes at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, speed doesn’t build gradually – it arrives like it…

3 hours ago

McLaren powers up: Intel returns to F1 after 20-year hiatus

Nearly two decades after its last high-speed venture in Formula 1, American computing giant Intel…

4 hours ago

Verstappen admits to 'super tough' Nürburgring 24 Hours qualifying

Max Verstappen’s Nürburgring 24 Hours debut is already delivering the kind of storyline only he…

6 hours ago

Audi progress not to be judged until ‘the end of the year’ - McNish

Audi’s 2026 Formula 1 project is already under the microscope, but racing director Allan McNish…

7 hours ago