Bortoleto, Colapinto and Lindblad Hit With United States GP Grid Penalties

Power-unit changes have already reshaped the Austin grid, with Gabriel Bortoleto facing a 20-place drop and Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad also receiving penalties.

Three drivers will carry confirmed grid penalties into United States Grand Prix qualifying after exceeding their permitted power-unit component allocations.

Gabriel Bortoleto received the largest penalty. Audi installed a fourth energy store and fourth control electronics unit in his car, with each change carrying a 10-place drop. The penalties are cumulative, producing a total loss of 20 grid positions.

Because that total exceeds 15 places, Bortoleto will be required to start from the back of the field under Formula 1’s regulations.

Audi also introduced a replacement internal combustion engine, turbocharger, exhaust set and power-unit ancillary component. Those changes remain within Bortoleto’s permitted allocation and therefore add nothing to his penalty.

Franco Colapinto will lose 10 places from his qualifying position after Alpine fitted his fourth control electronics unit of the season.

Arvid Lindblad received a five-place penalty after Racing Bulls introduced his sixth internal combustion engine. Lindblad had already exceeded the permitted allocation when his fifth engine was fitted in Malaysia, meaning this subsequent breach carries the smaller five-place penalty.

Under the regulations, the first use of a power-unit component beyond the season allowance triggers a 10-place grid penalty. Further breaches involving the same component carry five-place penalties, while multiple penalties issued at the same event are added together.

Qualifying will determine where Colapinto and Lindblad originally place their cars before the penalties are applied. Bortoleto’s 20-place drop already ensures he will begin Sunday’s race from the rear of the grid.