Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto will start the United States Grand Prix from the back of the grid after incurring a significant 80-place grid penalty. The penalty was imposed following multiple power unit component changes made by his team, Audi, ahead of the race weekend.

Bortoleto’s Extensive Power Unit Changes

Bortoleto initially faced a 20-place penalty at the Circuit of the Americas after Audi fitted his car with a fourth Control Electronics unit and a fourth Energy Store, both exceeding the season’s allocation of three, as reported by PlanetF1. Further extensive alterations were made on Saturday, leading to an additional 60-place drop.

The additional components included a fifth Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), fifth turbocharger, a fifth exhaust set, a fifth Energy Store, a fifth Control Electronics unit, a fourth MGU-K, and a seventh power unit ancillary component. According to Formula 1, this cumulative penalty of 80 grid places means Bortoleto will be required to start the race at the back of the field, regardless of his qualifying performance.

Regulations Governing Grid Penalties

Formula 1 regulations stipulate a clear system for power unit component infringements. The first time a driver exceeds the allocation of any power unit element, a 10-place grid penalty is applied. Subsequent infringements of the same element result in a five-place grid drop, with all penalties at the same event applying cumulatively. Crucially, if a driver incurs a penalty exceeding 15 grid places, they are automatically required to start the race from the back of the field.

Other Drivers Also Penalised

Gabriel Bortoleto is not the only driver to receive a grid penalty for the United States Grand Prix. Arvid Lindblad, driving for Racing Bulls, will take a five-place penalty for using a sixth internal combustion engine this season. Franco Colapinto, of Alpine, received a 10-place grid penalty for a fourth control electronics unit of the year. This penalty will see Colapinto start from 21st position, while Lindblad, who qualified ninth, will start 14th after his penalty, according to The Race.

Qualifying for the Grand Prix saw Kimi Antonelli secure pole position. Bortoleto had originally qualified 13th, but his substantial 80-place penalty means his starting position is the very last spot on the grid.