Just when you thought you’d heard the last of the ridiculous grid drop penalties, Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix goes and takes things a whole step further.
Seven of the 20 drivers received grid drop penalties and things have gotten so ridiculous that McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso actually move UP the grid despite five and ten place penalties.
Here’s a list of who got what penalties…
- Marcus Ericsson got a three place penalty for blocking and starts 12th
- Jenson Button gets a five place penalty for a power unit component change but actually moves up a place to 15th.
- Fernando Alonso gets a ten place penalty for a power unit component change and also moves up a place on the grid to 16th.
- Carlos Sainz starts 17th with a 35 place penalty for changing multiple components on his power unit.
- Daniil Kvyat has a 35 place penalty for power unit component changes and a gearbox change.
- Daniel Ricciardo starts 19th and somehow not last despite having a 50 place penalty for numerous changes to his power unit.
- Max Verstappen starts last with a 20 place penalty for power unit changes and also has to take a drive-through penalty during the race after his qualifying mishap.
So that’s that and now my head hurts. Oh and Will Stevens will start 13th. 13th!!
EDIT: Apparently it’s now 178 with 10 more grid penalties each for Button and Verstappen.