Norris, Ocon, Stroll, Tsunoda to start the Mexico City GP from the back of the grid
Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll, Lando Norris and Esteban Ocon are set to start tomorrow’s Mexico City Grand Prix from the back of the grid after having taken new power unit components for this weekend.
Despite the planned long 22-race calendar for 2021, drivers have a very limited number of engine components for the entire season. Should a driver exceed the limits, grid penalties will apply with the allocation being determined as follows: engines (ICE) (three per season), motor generator units-heat (MGU-H) (three), turbochargers (TC) (three), energy stores (ES) (two), control electronics (CE) (two), and motor generator units-kinetic (MGU-K) (three).
As the season slowly nears its conclusion, it seems that most of the drivers will exceed the allocation at one point of the championship. At the Mexico City Grand Prix, at least four drivers will be hit with a penalty for exceeding their allocation for the season.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll has now exceeded his allocation of the following Mercedes power unit parts: internal combustion engine (ICE), turbo, MGU-H, and control electronics. He also has a fourth exhaust, one of eight of those systems allowed this season.
AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda has received a new Honda ICE, turbo, MGU-H, and MGU-K. He has exceeded his allocation of all of those parts, with a sixth new exhaust too. Both Stroll and Tsunoda will therefore have to start the Mexico City GP from the back of the grid once the penalties are applied.
On Saturday, McLaren confirmed that Lando Norris has received a new Mercedes internal combustion engine (ICE), turbo and MGU-H, which means that he will have to start the race from the back of the grid.
Alpine's Esteban Ocon will start at the back too as he has taken a new Renault ICE, turbo, MGU-H, MGU-K, energy store, control electronics and exhaust this weekend.
George Russell of Williams has also been hit with a five-place grid penalty after losing his FP2 to a gearbox issue, the team having fitted a new gearbox on Friday evening.
Red Bull's Sergio Perez has taken a new Honda exhaust for his home race but as it is his sixth, he won't receive a penalty.
