Norris to start Sakhir GP from back row after power unit penalty
Lando Norris will start the Formula 1 Sakhir Grand Prix from the final row of the grid after taking a fresh engine and turbocharger ahead of the race
Norris qualified a lowly 15th on Saturday at the Bahrain International Circuit after mistiming his final lap in Q2, with the gains made by other drivers shuffling him to the bottom of the order.
It left McLaren weighing up a potential change to Norris's Renault power unit in order to gain fresh parts ahead of the race and the season finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
FIA F1 technical delegate Nikolas Tombazis - who is standing in for Jo Bauer this weekend - confirmed ahead of the race in Bahrain that McLaren had taken two new parts on Norris's power unit.
By fitting a fresh engine and turbocharger, Norris's car has now exceeded the seasonal limit for both parts, triggering a grid penalty.
As a result, Norris will start today's race from the back of the grid.
The McLaren driver will join Pietro Fittipaldi of Haas on the final row after the Brazilian also took new power unit elements on Saturday.
Although Fittipaldi is making his F1 debut, he continued with regular Haas driver Romain Grosjean's allocation, meaning the new energy store and control electronics fitted to his car exceeded the season limit.
Both Norris and Fittipaldi have 'back of grid' penalties, but as Norris qualified higher, he is due to start ahead of the Haas racer.
Norris's penalty hands positions to Kevin Magnussen, Nicholas Latifi, Jack Aitken and Kimi Raikkonen on the grid, gaining one place each.
Norris is in need of a fightback to aid McLaren in its push for third place in the constructors' championship.
McLaren currently sits 17 points clear of Racing Point in the race for third, but has only one car starting in the top 10 courtesy of Carlos Sainz Jr, who will line up eighth in Bahrain.
Sergio Perez qualified fifth in the leading Racing Point, while team-mate Lance Stroll will start 10th.
Norris said after qualifying on Saturday that he felt it could be difficult to overtake around the narrow outer loop layout in Bahrain.
"There should be some good racing, but it's not as easy as everyone thinks it is to overtake here," Norris said.
"It may look it, but it's not. I think it's going to be a tough race. So there's still going to be some overtaking, but it's not going to be as easy as what people think."
F1 drivers and teams downplay chances of chaotic Sakhir GP
The development obstacles F1’s power roadmap has to clear
Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1?
Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1? Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1?
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
How ‘demanding’ Alonso has started life with Aston Martin
How ‘demanding’ Alonso has started life with Aston Martin How ‘demanding’ Alonso has started life with Aston Martin
Norris details why he thinks McLaren can beat Aston Martin in F1 standings
Norris details why he thinks McLaren can beat Aston Martin in F1 standings Norris details why he thinks McLaren can beat Aston Martin in F1 standings
McLaren: Red Bull “still a step too far” despite Norris F1 rallying call
McLaren: Red Bull “still a step too far” despite Norris F1 rallying call McLaren: Red Bull “still a step too far” despite Norris F1 rallying call
How Lando Norris is building up an empire outside F1
How Lando Norris is building up an empire outside F1 How Lando Norris is building up an empire outside F1
How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell
How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell
FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26
FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26 FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26
WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future
WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future
Pirelli set to abandon C2 shift for F1 2024 after Japan prototype test
Pirelli set to abandon C2 shift for F1 2024 after Japan prototype test Pirelli set to abandon C2 shift for F1 2024 after Japan prototype test
The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team
The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
How football has posed difficult questions for F1
How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.