Carlos Sainz is to be slapped with a grid penalty for this weekend's French Grand Prix for excessive power unit component usage. The Spaniard is taking on his third control electronics of 2022 with only two permitted for the season, triggering a 10-place grid drop. Sainz retired from the Austrian Grand Prix two weeks ago with fire billowing from the rear of his Ferrari, and it remains to be seen whether the damage will result in further new engine parts and more penalties over the course of the weekend.
Also engine-related changes for Mercedes and Red Bull
Elsewhere, Mercedes have elected to fit several new parts to the W13s of both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, with Hamilton notably taking on a new turbo, MGU-H, energy store and control electronics. However, neither Russell nor Hamilton are facing a grid drop, as none of the changes exceed the permitted component usage for 2022. Red Bull are also making some minor changes, with both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez being fitted with their fourth new exhaust system of eight permitted for the season. The only other driver to be taking on new components at this stage is Alfa Romeo rookie Zhou Guanyu, who moves to his second energy store of 2022.
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