Alonso set for pit lane start in Austria

Fernando Alonso is set to start Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix from the pit lane after McLaren opted to change the MGU-K on his Formula 1 power unit and take a new specification of front wing for his car ahead of the race.

Alonso qualified 13th for McLaren on Saturday at the Red Bull Ring, but it was confirmed by FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer ahead of the race that the team had broken parc ferme procedure in order to fit the Spaniard's MCL33 car with a new specification of front wing and fit a new MGU-K.

The MGU-K change takes Alonso above the permitted allocation of components for the 2018 season, triggering a grid penalty, but the Spaniard will start last regardless due to the new-spec front wing.

"The parts have been replaced with the approval of the FIA technical delegate following a written request from the team concerned, this being in accordance with Article 34.2 of the 2018 Formula One Sporting Regulations," Bauer's report reads.

"But as the above parts are different from the ones originally used, car number 14 should now be required to start from the pit lane according to Article 34.6 of the 2018 Formula One Sporting Regulations."