Hamilton’s perfect Italian job
Belgian rookie Vandoorne takes 25-place penalty
BELGIAN rookie Stoffel Vandoorne will collect a 25-place penalty for yesterday’s Italian Grand Prix, dropping the McLaren driver from eighth position to the tail end of the field.
A Honda spokesman said a decision had been made to replace the car’s power unit after an issue arose during Saturday’s final practice. He added that the component in question could have been replaced without a penalty with more time, but post-qualifying conditions made that impossible.
Vandoorne has scored one point in 12 races so far this season, and Monza – the fastest circuit on the calendar – threatened to be another tough afternoon for a team enduring a power deficit to rivals.
The Belgian’s Spanish teammate Fernando Alonso also had a 35-place penalty on a 20-car grid littered with similar mandatory drops imposed as a result of engine and gearbox changes.
The sanctions have become an embarrassment and source of frustration for teams and fans, with calls for the rules to be changed.
The Red Bull pairing of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, who were second- and thirdfastest in Saturday’s rain-delayed qualifying, have 20- and 25-place penalties respectively.
Renault’s Jolyon Palmer and Nico Hulkenberg took 15- and 10place drops while Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz also took a 10-place hit. — Reuters