Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

Why Bahrain and Saudi Arabia may still host a grand prix in F1 2026

Formula 1
Why Bahrain and Saudi Arabia may still host a grand prix in F1 2026

Red Bull enjoyed a "step forward" at Miami GP but still behind F1's best

Formula 1
Red Bull enjoyed a "step forward" at Miami GP but still behind F1's best

What would you like to ask Valtteri Bottas?

Formula 1
Canadian GP
What would you like to ask Valtteri Bottas?

Why WEC is in a great place heading into the Le Mans 24 Hours

Feature
WEC
Spa
Why WEC is in a great place heading into the Le Mans 24 Hours

Verstappen’s biggest rivals in the 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours

NLS
Verstappen’s biggest rivals in the 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours

As Marquez sinks and Martin surges, Bezzecchi knows exactly who to beat for the MotoGP title

Feature
MotoGP
French GP
As Marquez sinks and Martin surges, Bezzecchi knows exactly who to beat for the MotoGP title

How F1's planned 60-40 power split for 2027 will affect each manufacturer

Feature
Formula 1
How F1's planned 60-40 power split for 2027 will affect each manufacturer

How Rally Portugal served up WRC redemption for Neuville 

Feature
WRC
Rally Portugal
How Rally Portugal served up WRC redemption for Neuville 

Rins thinks Vinales should start remaining MotoGP races from pitlane

Suzuki's Alex Rins thinks Maverick Vinales should start every race he uses his new engine from the pitlane and not just this weekend's MotoGP European Grand Prix

Yamaha was forced to exceed Vinales' allocation of five engines for the season this weekend in Valencia owing to concerns over the durability of his well-worn remaining motors.

As a result, Vinales will have to start Sunday's race from pitlane, but will not for the Valencia and Portuguese GPs so long as he doesn't unseal another engine.

This follows on from Thursday's ruling from the FIM which found Yamaha had used illegal engines at the Spanish GP and docked the manufacturer 50 constructors' points - though the riders were not stripped of any.

Rins - who was sixth fastest on Friday at Valencia - was critical of the FIM's decision to spare the riders, stating: "In the end there are so many bad decisions made by the Stewards that you have to accept them.

"For many penalties that are put out and for many complaints from the riders nothing changes.

"I like to win on the track, not off it, it will motivate me to have more strength to compete. If we win, we will win with more merit."

The Suzuki rider added there are "more injustices" not being talked about, like Vinales being able to run a fresh engine and taking just one penalty while the rest have to continue using their worn units simply because their manufacturer has had less issues.

"Leaving aside this issue [the penalty for Yamaha], there are also more injustices which are not seen or which you do not ask about," Rins, who is an outside title bet at 32 points off the lead, added.

"For example, Maverick, who uses a new engine and has to start from the pitlane only in this race will then benefit in other [races because he] has an engine with fewer kilometres [on it], and that is not talked about.

"I already said, there are so many injustices and they are not talked about. You have to abide by them and fight.

"If he opens a new engine in Valencia 1 and continues with this engine in the following [races], clearly he has an advantage.

"So, what would make sense is for him to start out of the pitlane every time he uses this new engine. But the rules are [not] made like this."

Previous article Quartararo relaxed over Yamaha MotoGP engine mileage
Next article MotoGP European Grand Prix qualifying - Start time, how to watch & more

Top Comments

Latest news