Lewis Hamilton will start the race 10 places lower than his qualifying position after Mercedes fitted a new ICE (Internal Combustion Engine), his fourth of the season; Mercedes hoping to limit penalty damage in title fight against Max Verstappen and Red Bull
By Matt Morlidge
Last Updated: 08/10/21 10:22am
Lewis Hamilton will take a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Turkish GP after Mercedes fitted the championship leader with a new engine in Istanbul.
Hamilton has been moved onto his fourth ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) of the season, one more than is permitted in the F1 regulations.
But Hamilton is set to avoid the back-of-the-grid start that title rival Max Verstappen served in Russia as the Englishman, with only one element changed on his Power Unit, will start the race 10 places lower than his qualifying position.
While Hamilton played down the possibility of an engine penalty coming into the weekend, Mercedes had told Sky Sports that they wanted to avoid taking reliability “risks” in the championship battle against Verstappen.
Red Bull’s Verstappen recovered from 20th to second at the Russian GP to limit Hamilton’s title lead to just two points despite taking his big penalty with a completely new Honda engine.
Hamilton isn’t the only driver serving an engine penalty this weekend; Carlos Sainz will start at the back of the grid with Ferrari’s new PU.
More to follow.