F1, Ferrari: penalty for Carlos Sainz

Five penalty positions for Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz will start five positions further back than the position he will take at the end of qualifying for the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix. FIA commissioners determined the penalty after the Spaniard’s Ferrari’s endothermic engine change (ICE).

The penalty could have been more severe in the case of changes to other components, but the Cavallino team saw fit not to introduce the new round, as had been speculated in the hours before the final decision.

Sainz arrives in Brazil after a fifth-place finish in the Mexico GP, preceded by two retirements/flashes first in Japan and then in the United States. His last podium finish was in Singapore, dating back to last Oct. 2 (third, behind winner Sergio Perez and teammate Charles Leclerc).