Williams car tweaks trigger grid penalty

Alex Albon will start the United States Grand Prix sprint from the pit lane following changes made to his car under parc fermé conditions.

It is the fourth time this season Albon has taken such a penalty, and the third time for a sprint event after previously doing so in Miami and Austria. His other pit lane start was for the Spanish Grand Prix.

On this occasion, for the shortened race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Williams has tweaked the rear wing and suspension set-up.

Albon had qualified 18th after a mistake in SQ1 resulted in him failing to make it out of the opening sprint qualifying stanza.

A document from technical delegate Jo Bauer read: "During the Parc Fermé today, the Williams Racing team has made changes to the rear-wing specification and to the set-up of the suspension of car number 23, driver Alexander Albon, without the approval of FIA technical delegate.

"Therefore car number 23 should now be required to start the sprint from the pit lane according to Article 40.9 of the 2024 Formula One sporting regulations."