Honda’s engine woes put brakes on Alonso
Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz and both Red Bull drivers will be hit by grid penalties for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, it was confirmed Friday.
Two-time former champion Alonso faces a likely 35-place penalty after Honda fitted an upgraded engine to his McLaren for opening practice on Friday.
The Red Bull pair Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo face 15 and 20-place penalties respectively for having new power unit components fitted for Monza.
Like Alonso, who on Friday switched back to an older engine for second practice, they are choosing to take their penalties in Italy to improve their prospects for success in Singapore, where their cars are better suited to the street track. Sainz faces a 10-place penalty for taking an unscheduled fifth power unit element.
“Yes, we are being a bit strategic about it,” said Ricciardo of the decision to take advantage of a system that has been widely criticised.
A satisfied Valtteri Bottas narrowly outshone his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, with Ferrari close behind, in Friday afternoon’s second free practice.
The Finn, second quickest behind the three-time champion Briton in the morning, clocked a best lap in one minute and 21.406 to outpace him by 0.056 seconds.
World championship leader Sebastian Vettel was third quickest for Ferrari, one-tenth of a second adrift, as the two leading teams closed up at the top ahead of the Italian outfit’s annual home event.
Force India told their duelling drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon on Friday that they can race “responsibly” in this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
The spectre of team orders was in the air in the warring Force India garage after the duo’s rivalry resulted in a series of clashes and crashes.
But after Perez and Ocon held clear the air talks on Thursday their team have decided to let them race freely in Monza.