Verstappen set for US GP grid penalty after gearbox change
Max Verstappen will drop further down the Formula 1 grid for the start of Sunday’s United States Grand Prix after Red Bull opted to change the gearbox on his car overnight, triggering a penalty.
Verstappen qualified 15th at the Circuit of The Americas on Saturday after damaging his car when running over a sausage kerb at the exit of Turn 15, preventing him from taking part in either Q2 or Q3.
Max Verstappen will drop further down the Formula 1 grid for the start of Sunday’s United States Grand Prix after Red Bull opted to change the gearbox on his car overnight, triggering a penalty.
Verstappen qualified 15th at the Circuit of The Americas on Saturday after damaging his car when running over a sausage kerb at the exit of Turn 15, preventing him from taking part in either Q2 or Q3.
Red Bull reviewed the damage to his RB14 car overnight, and opted to complete a gearbox change ahead of the race, as confirmed by the FIA-appointed stewards in Austin on Sunday morning.
Verstappen will receive a five-place penalty, and will drop to 18th on the grid due to the ‘back of grid’ penalties handed to Toro Rosso drivers Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly following their power unit changes.
Fernando Alonso, Sergey Sirotkin, Lance Stroll, Marcus Ericsson and Stoffel Vandoorne will all gain an additional place for the start at COTA as a result of Verstappen’s penalty.
