Italian GP starting grid after 168 places of F1 penalties at Monza
A total of 168 positions' worth of grid penalties will officially be applied to the Formula 1 field for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza
The McLaren, Toro Rosso and Red Bull teams contribute the majority, having made a number of engine changes between them - some tactical, others due to failures - at a track that was always likely to be a challenge for power unit suppliers Honda and Renault.
Their demotions elevate the Manor-run Marussias of Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi to 13th and 14th on the grid ahead of half a dozen penalised cars.
None of the sextet at the back are able to take the full scale of their penalties, which include a 50-place drop for Daniel Ricciardo's multiple engine changes.
An FIA rule tweak earlier this season made a back-of-the-grid start the highest penalty possible, ending previous practices of making up 'leftover' positions via in-race drive-throughs or the 2014 system of grid drops at subsequent races.
Max Verstappen starts last even though three other drivers technically have more substantial grid drops than his 30 places, as he did not set a time in qualifying so is not considered to have run in the session.
The Toro Rosso only emerged for an installation lap in Q1 following a Renault engine change, and then shed a large section of its bodywork - which earned Verstappen a drive-through penalty for the race as the car had been released in an unsafe condition.
The only non-technical grid penalty was awarded to Sauber's Marcus Ericsson, who was given a three-place penalty for blocking Nico Hulkenberg's Force India in qualifying.
As Carlos Sainz Jr's Toro Rosso - 13th-fastest in qualifying - is affected by an engine penalty, Ericsson's actual demotion is just two places from 10th to 12th.
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID:
| Pos | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 2 | Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari |
| 3 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari |
| 4 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes |
| 5 | Felipe Massa | Williams/Mercedes |
| 6 | Valtteri Bottas | Williams/Mercedes |
| 7 | Sergio Perez | Force India/Mercedes |
| 8 | Romain Grosjean | Lotus/Mercedes |
| 9 | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India/Mercedes |
| 10 | Pastor Maldonado | Lotus/Mercedes |
| 11 | Felipe Nasr | Sauber/Ferrari |
| 12 | Marcus Ericsson | Sauber/Ferrari |
| 13 | Will Stevens | Marussia/Ferrari |
| 14 | Roberto Merhi | Marussia/Ferrari |
| 15 | Jenson Button | McLaren/Honda |
| 16 | Fernando Alonso | McLaren/Honda |
| 17 | Carlos Sainz Jr. | Toro Rosso/Renault |
| 18 | Daniil Kvyat | Red Bull/Renault |
| 19 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull/Renault |
| 20 | Max Verstappen | Toro Rosso/Renault |
FULL LIST OF PENALTIES
Ericsson: 3 places (impeding) Starts 12th on account of Sainz's penalty.
Button: 5 places (9th engine - already on 9th turbo)
Alonso: 10 places (9th engine)
Sainz: 35 (5th and 6th engines + 5th turbo, MHU-K and MGU-H)
Kvyat: 35 (6th and 7th engines + 5th and 6th turbo + gearbox)
Ricciardo: 50 (6th engine and 5th turbo, MGU-K and MGU-H + 7th engine and 6th turbo, MGU-K and MGU-H)
Verstappen: 30 places (7th engine and 5th turbo and MGU-K + broken seals on 6th engine (fitted for qualifying) Starts last on account of not running in qualifying. Will also take a drive through in first three laps for unsafe release in Q1
Previous article
Italian GP: Mercedes clears Hamilton's engine after Rosberg problem
Next article
Italian GP: F1 stewards investigate Hamilton and Rosberg over tyres
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Author | Ben Anderson |
Why Tsunoda can become Japan’s greatest F1 talent
While Japan's fever for motor racing is well-documented, the country has yet to produce a Formula 1 superstar – but that could be about to change, says BEN EDWARDS
Why the demise of F1's hypocritical spending habit is cause for celebration
For too long, F1's richest teams have justified being able to spend as much as they want because that's the way they've always conducted their business. STUART CODLING says that's no reason not to kick a bad habit
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is not guaranteed
The diva that stole a march on F1’s wide-bodied opposition
In 2017 new F1 technical regulations were supposed to add drama - and peg Mercedes back. STUART CODLING looks at the car which, while troubled, set the stage for the wide-bodied Formula 1 era
The themes to watch in F1’s Imola return
Three weeks is a long time in Formula 1, but in the reshaped start to the 2021 season the teams head to Imola to pick things up after the frenetic Bahrain opener. Here's what to look out for and the developments to follow at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. BEN ANDERSON looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of car-racing titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
