FIA hands out 168 place grid penalty: Max 20th with a drive through

Published on 06 September 2015 by Mike Motilall

The FIA Stewards of the Meeting have, prior to the Grand Prix of Italy, handed out an astonishing total of 168 place grid penalty to seven drivers. Max Verstappen is one of them: he gets a total of thirty place grid penalty for the “first time use of a seventh and fifth power unit element”. Before qualifying, Scuderia Toro Rosso decided to put back some engine parts that were also used for the Belgian Grand Prix. An FIA-seal was removed without their supervision, deeming the used element to be considered as new. Instead of the ten place penalty drop, the Dutchman is now punished with thirty places.

All in all, this means that Verstappen, also for not having been able to set a time in qualifying, will start from the back of the field. Apart from that, Max is also been given a drive through penalty, that needs to be taken during the first three laps of the race. This is due to the fact that his engine cover tore off during qualifying on Saturday. After Justin Wilson’s fatal accident, who passed away as a result of being hit by debris from the car in front of him, the FIA is particularly strict now on parts coming off.

Marcus Ericsson has been dropped three places for impeding Nico Hulkenberg during qualifying. The Swede is starting from the twelfth position, just in front of Will Stevens’ and Roberto Merhi’s Marussias. Behind of them, we find Jenson Button, with a five place grid penalty, Fernando Alonso, who has been dropped ten places, Carlos Sainz with a 35 place penalty, Daniil Kvyat with also a 35 place penalty, Daniel Ricciardo with a whopping 50 place grid penalty and finally, Max all the way at the back. All the penalties have been given for having changed power units parts, only Kvyat was penalized five places for having changed the gearbox.

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