Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jnr will start the 2022 French Grand Prix at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, Var, from the rear of the field after taking more grid penalties for tomorrow’s race.
Ahead of the third practice session in France, the FIA officially confirmed that Scuderia Ferrari had fitted a fourth power unit to Carlos Sainz’s F1-75 car overnight, triggering penalties which will require the Spanish driver to start from the back of the grid. Kevin Magnussen will also have to start from the back, as Haas decided to change his Ferrari engine.
Carlos Sainz had already received a ten-place grid penalty for the French Grand Prix at the circuit Paul Ricard after the Maranello team installed a third electronics control unit for yesterday’s free practice sessions. In 2022, cars are allowed only two electronics control units for the entire championship as well as only three power units until they get grid penalties.
After the further changes today, whichever of the two drivers is quickest in today’s qualifying session will start ahead of the other on the 10th row of the grid. The Italian side has also fitted a new exhaust to Charles Leclerc’s F1-75 car, but does not incur a penalty, but is the seventh out of a maximum of eight he is allowed to use in 2022.
Carlos Sainz was forced to retire two times as a result of mechanical related issues in this first part of the 2022 Formula One season: the first DNF came at the Baku City circuit due to an engine issue, while at the Red Bull Ring he lost a second place finish when his power unit failed spectacularly in the final laps of the Austrian Grand Prix, leading to his Ferrari car catching fire.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection from Puma! Enter the online Puma Store and shop securely! And get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
Kevin Magnussen also retired from two consecutive events in Monte Carlo and Baku, as a result of issues related to his Ferrari power unit. The Haas driver headed into the French Grand Prix weekend on the back of two consecutive points finishes along with Ferrari junior Mick Schumacher.
Ahead of the French Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz is fourth in the drivers’ championship on 133 points, 75 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and 37 behind his Maranello team mate Charles Leclerc, who sits second in the standings.
Leave a Reply