engine change and ten-place penalty for Hamilton at the start of the Turkish GP

The leader of the Formula 1 world championship Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) will start with a penalty of at least ten places in the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday. The Briton saw his vehicle benefit from an engine change beyond the authorized quotas. After the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) in Russia a fortnight ago, it is therefore his rival for the title who will be penalized because of the use of a 4th engine this season on his car. Before this 16th round of the Grand Prix, which will take place on the Istanbul Park circuit, Hamilton is two points ahead of Verstappen. A short lead that he will have to keep for the next seven meetings on the calendar if he wants to win.

The number of changes to the different elements of the single-seater powertrain is limited each season and any change beyond a certain number is automatically penalized. For example, Ferrari has decided to fit a completely new version of its hybrid engine on Carlos Sainz’s single-seater. Because of these many changes, the Spaniard will start from the back of the grid on Sunday.

For now, only the internal combustion engine has been replaced on Lewis Hamilton’s No.44 car, according to the technical report sent by the International Automobile Federation (FIA). If he makes one or more modifications on the power unit this weekend, the seven-time world champion will receive one or more other penalties.

At the end of today’s second free practice session, Hamilton took the fastest time in 1’23.840. Thanks to an improvement in his time at the end of the session, the Briton finished just ahead of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari ) and its 1’23’970. Half a second behind the reigning world champion, Valtteri Bottas and his Mercedes completed the podium. The Red Bull single-seaters of Perez and Verstappen occupy fourth and fifth place. The French Ocon and Gasly are respectively classified eighth and ninth.