published10. September 2022, 11:03
engine parts changedStarting place chaos in Monza – Verstappen and Hamilton are penalized
One thing is already clear before qualifying in Monza: Various drivers will be given a penalty or even have to start from the back on Sunday.
Season dominator Max Verstappen will certainly be penalized five places on Sunday.
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It’s even worse for Lewis Hamilton: He has to start from the back in Monza on Sunday.
AFP
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At the Grand Prix in Monza, Italy, the starting grid is mixed up.
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Several drivers have already been fined for changing engine parts.
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Charles Leclerc has a good chance of taking pole position at Ferrari’s home race.
Italy, Ferrari – that fits. The enthusiasm on the home track in Monza is alive. Despite all the setbacks this season. The Scuderia has a special yellow paint finish. And there are justified hopes for at least first place on the grid. Because: Charles Leclerc not only drove well in the training sessions, almost all of his competitors will also be penalized for the race on Sunday.
A part of the so-called power unit was changed for world championship leader and defending champion Max Verstappen. Because the fifth new element will be used this season with three allowed, he has to drop five places, as the race control specified following the first free practice session on Friday.
Hamilton has to start from the end of the field
His Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez will have to move ten grid positions back, Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari at the Scuderia’s home race by 15 places, as well as Valtteri Bottas in the Alfa-Sauber. Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton is particularly hard hit. The five-time Monza winner and seven-time world champion will start from the back on Sunday. Since several parts have been changed in his Mercedes, he will start from the end of the field. This also applies to the Japanese Alpha Tauri pilot Yuki Tsunoda.
The teams chose Monza to install new parts above the permitted contingent primarily because it is easy to overtake on the high-speed circuit with a full-throttle percentage of over 75 percent – especially with such a powerful car as that of Max Verstappen, who is the leader in the class.
Will Verstappen soon be world champions?
The 24-year-old dominator has every chance of winning this season if he ultimately stays in the top ten of the starting grid. His lead over Leclerc and Perez in the overall standings is 109 points. Mathematically, depending on the outcome of the Italian race, Verstappen might then secure his second title in a row in Singapore at the beginning of October.
(wed/dpa)
